Definition of Allegiance

1. Noun. The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action. "They felt no loyalty to a losing team"

Exact synonyms: Commitment, Dedication, Loyalty
Specialized synonyms: Communalism, Consecration, Devotion, Enlistment, Faith
Generic synonyms: Cooperation
Derivative terms: Allegiant, Commit, Dedicate

2. Noun. The loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign).
Exact synonyms: Fealty
Generic synonyms: Loyalty, Trueness
Derivative terms: Allegiant

Definition of Allegiance

1. n. The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king, government, or state.

Definition of Allegiance

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Allegiance

1. 1. The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king, government, or state. 2. Devotion; loyalty; as, allegiance to science. Synonym: Loyalty, fealty. Allegiance, Loyalty. These words agree in expressing the general idea of fidelity and attachment to the "powers that be." Allegiance is an obligation to a ruling power. Loyalty is a feeling or sentiment towards such power. Allegiance may exist under any form of government, and, in a republic, we generally speak of allegiance to the government, to the state, etc. In well conducted monarchies, loyalty is a warm-hearted feeling of fidelity and obedience to the sovereign. It is personal in its nature; and hence we speak of the loyalty of a wife to her husband, not of her allegiance. In cases where we personify, loyalty is more commonly the word used; as, loyalty to the constitution; loyalty to the cause of virtue; loyalty to truth and religion, etc. "Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me!" (Shak) "So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found, . . . Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal." (Milton) Origin: OE. Alegeaunce; pref. A- + OF. Lige, liege. The meaning was influenced by L. Ligare to bind, and even by lex, legis, law. See Liege, Ligeance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Allegiance

allegge
allegged
allegges
allegging
Alleghany plum
Alleghenies
Allegheny
Allegheny chinkapin
Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny mountain spurge
Allegheny plum
Allegheny River
Allegheny spurge
Allegheny vine
allegiance (current term)
allegiance (current term)
allegiances
allegiant
allegiants
alleging
allegoric
allegorical
allegorically
allegoricalness
allegories
allegorise
allegorised
allegoriser
allegorises
allegorising

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