Fidelity
/fɪˈdɛl.ɪ.ti/noun
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
Did you know?Fidelity's roots connect to the Latin 'fidelis', meaning 'faithful', but it also shares ties with words linked to trust and oaths in ancient rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeɪ-
“to set, put, or place, often in the context of trust or loyalty.”
Latin
Latin
fidelis
“faithful, loyal, true, often used in oaths.”
Old French
Old French
fidelite
“faithfulness, loyalty, stemming from Latin roots.”
Middle English
Middle English
fidelite
“faithfulness, loyalty, derived from Old French.”
Modern English
English
fidelity
“the quality of being faithful, especially in personal relationships or allegiances.”