Definition

Relating to a lord or monarch, especially in terms of loyalty and service; often used to describe a relationship of allegiance between a ruler and their subjects.

Example

The knight pledged his liege loyalty to the king, promising to serve him faithfully.

Conversation

Did you know that some medieval kings had to be very liege to their vassals?

Yeah, I read that they had to provide protection in exchange for loyalty.

It's interesting how those relationships worked back then, right?

Totally, it was all about mutual support and being liege to one another.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A person who is a lord or ruler, especially in a feudal system, to whom others owe loyalty and service.

Example

In the feudal system, the liege was responsible for protecting his vassals in exchange for their loyalty.

Conversation

Did you ever wonder what it was like to be a liege in medieval times?

Definitely! It must have been a lot of responsibility to serve a lord.

Right? I mean, being a loyal liege meant you had to protect your land.

Root Explanation

Liege → The word originates from Old French *lige*, meaning free or loyal. It refers to a person who is bound to a lord or sovereign in a relationship of mutual obligation and loyalty.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word for loyalty, 'lige', to remember that 'liege' refers to a person who is loyal to a lord or sovereign.

Visually Confused Words