Allegiance
/əˈliːdʒəns/
Definitions
The loyalty or faithfulness that someone feels towards a particular person, country, or group.
/əˈliːdʒəns/
Loyalty or faithfulness to a person, cause, or country.
He pledged his allegiance to the king.
💡 Simply: Being loyal and faithful to something or someone.
More Examples
Their allegiance to the cause remained unshaken.
How It's Used
"Citizens swear allegiance to their country."
"The defendant's allegiance to the crown was questioned."
From Old French *alegeaunce, from alegier 'to lighten, relieve', from *ad- + leviare 'to lighten'. The sense evolved from 'removal of burden' to 'loyalty' due to the lessening of the burden placed on a lord by a loyal vassal.
Historically, allegiance was often tied to feudal obligations and oaths of loyalty to a lord or monarch.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'league' of loyal people pledging their allegiance.
Word Origin
"To lighten, relieve; later evolving to imply the lightening of burden through loyalty."