Liege: meaning, definitions and examples
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liege
[ liːʤ ]
in politics
A liege is a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He was a loyal liege to his subjects.
- The king demanded the fealty of his lieges.
obsolete
A liege is a sovereign or a king.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The liege was known for his wisdom and benevolence.
- The liege held court in the grand palace.
archaic
A liege is a sworn vassal.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The knight pledged his loyalty to his liege.
- The liege granted lands to his vassals.
Translations
Translations of the word "liege" in other languages:
🇵🇹 senhor feudal
- vassalo
- Liege
🇮🇳 लेज़
- अधिपति
- जागीरदार
🇩🇪 Lehnsherr
🇮🇩 tuan tanah
🇺🇦 сюзерен
🇵🇱 lenno
🇯🇵 領主 (りょうしゅ)
🇫🇷 suzerain
🇪🇸 señor feudal
🇹🇷 senyör
🇰🇷 영주
🇸🇦 سيد إقطاعي
🇨🇿 léno
🇸🇰 léno
🇨🇳 封建领主 (fēngjiàn lǐngzhǔ)
🇸🇮 fevdalni gospod
🇮🇸 lénsherra
🇰🇿 феодал
🇬🇪 სიუზერენი
🇦🇿 feodal
🇲🇽 señor feudal
Word origin
The word 'liege' originated from the Old French term 'lige', meaning 'free' or 'unbound'. In medieval times, a liege was a feudal lord to whom allegiance and service were due. The concept of a liege lord was central to the feudal system, where vassals swore loyalty to their lieges in exchange for protection and land. Over time, the term evolved to also refer to a sovereign or king. Today, 'liege' is mainly used in historical or literary contexts to denote a feudal superior.