noun
liege
leej
noun
1
In feudal times, a lord entitled to service and loyalty from his subjects, or (less often) the subject who owed that loyalty.
"The knights swore to defend their liege against all enemies."
"A liege was expected to protect the people who served him."
adj
1
Relating to the mutual duties between a feudal lord and his subjects; bound by loyalty and service.
"They pledged liege loyalty to the new king."
How to Use Liege
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old feudal word for a lord (or the loyalty owed to one) — mostly seen now in historical fiction and fantasy.
When to use it
Archaic; used today mainly in medieval settings, fantasy writing, or for deliberate old-fashioned effect.
Common pairings
my liege
liege lord
sworn to a liege
Word Forms
lieges plural
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The knights swore to defend their _____ against all enemies.
Etymology
From Old French liege, tracing back through Middle High German ledic ("free") to a Germanic root meaning unrestricted or unattached.