Allegeance
/əˈliːdʒəns/noun
An obsolete spelling of allegiance, meaning loyal devotion or fidelity to a person, ruler, or cause.
Did you know?Medieval allegiance was not merely emotional loyalty: it could create enforceable duties between a subject and a lord, making language part of the feudal bond.
Etymological Timeline
12th Century
Old French
ligeance
“The condition or duty of being a liege; loyalty to a feudal lord.”
13th Century
Anglo-French
legaunce
“Feudal loyalty or the bond owed by a subject to a ruler.”
14th Century
Middle English
allegeaunce
“Loyalty, faithfulness, or allegiance; an established variant spelling.”
15th Century
Middle English
allegeance
“Loyal service or fidelity, especially to a king or lord.”
16th Century
English
allegiance
“The standardizing spelling for loyalty or fidelity to a sovereign, state, or cause.”
Modern English
English
allegiance
“Loyalty or commitment to a person, group, institution, or cause.”