liege

[ leej, leezh ]
See synonyms for liege on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.

  2. a feudal vassal or subject.

adjective
  1. owing primary allegiance and service to a feudal lord.

  2. pertaining to the relation between a feudal vassal and lord.

  1. loyal; faithful: the liege adherents of a cause.

Origin of liege

1
1250–1300; Middle English <Old French li(e)ge ≪ Germanic *lēt- vassal + Latin -icus-ic; compare Medieval Latin lētī barbarians allowed to settle on Roman land (<Germanic; perhaps akin to let1), laeticus for *lēticus, derivative of lētī

Other definitions for Liège (2 of 2)

Liège
[ lee-eyzh; French lyezh ]

noun
  1. a city in E Belgium, on the Meuse River: one of the first cities attacked in World War I.

  2. a province in E Belgium. 1,521 sq. mi. (3,940 sq. km). Capital: Liège.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for liege (1 of 2)

liege

/ (liːdʒ) /


adjective
  1. (of a lord) owed feudal allegiance (esp in the phrase liege lord)

  2. (of a vassal or servant) owing feudal allegiance: a liege subject

  1. of or relating to the relationship or bond between liege lord and liegeman: liege homage

  2. faithful; loyal

noun
  1. a liege lord

  2. a liegeman or true subject

Origin of liege

1
C13: from Old French lige, from Medieval Latin līticus, from lītus, laetus serf, of Germanic origin

British Dictionary definitions for Liège (2 of 2)

Liège

/ (lɪˈeɪʒ, French ljɛʒ) /


noun
  1. a province of E Belgium: formerly a principality of the Holy Roman Empire, much larger than the present-day province. Pop: 1 029 605 (2004 est). Area: 3877 sq km (1497 sq miles)

  2. a city in E Belgium, capital of Liège province: the largest French-speaking city in Belgium; river port and industrial centre. Pop: 185 488 (2004 est)

  • Flemish name: Luik

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012