liegemann.
/ˈliːdʒmən/, U.S. /ˈlidʒˌmæn/, /ˈlidʒmən/ 1. Feudal Law. A vassal sworn to the service and support of his superior lord, who in return was obliged to afford him protection, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > feudal service > [noun] > vassal
manlOE
subjectc1350
liegemana1375
liege1377
feudary1387
servant?a1400
vassala1400
feedmanc1460
sidesman1462
feeman1517
feudatary1586
feudatory1765
leud1812
geneat1861
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2663 Lordinges, ȝe ben my lege men þat gode ben & trewe.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 285 Kyng William wente into Scotland..and kyng Malcolyn bycam his leege man, and swoor hym homage and fewte.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1768 Alle his lele lige mene.
1420 H. Stafford in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. I. 66 The kyngys liche men..han y fetaylid hym well and nothyng vs.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxxv. f. lxi They wolde become his liegemen, and holde theyr Lande of hym for euer.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng xi. f. 20v I shall true liegeman be, and true faythe beare to kyng Henry..and to his heyres.
1579 J. Stubbs Discouerie Gaping Gulf sig. Fiijv A true Englishman, a sworne liegeman to hir Maiestie.
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 146 If the Irish were receiued into the Kings protection, and made Liege-men and Free-subiectes.
1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. viii. 179 They swear therefore to William, to be his Liege-men.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain ii. vi. 61 When Arthur..Spoke of his liegemen and his throne.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. (new ed.) I. 35 The princes of Cornwall, Wales, Cumbria and Strath-clyde became his liege men.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity III. vii. ii. 162 Building fortresses to reduce his free-born liegemen to slavery.
2. transferred and figurative. One who serves as though sworn to do so, a faithful follower or subject.
ΘΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > retainer or follower > [noun] > faithful or devoted
Achates1582
fidus Achates1603
myrmidon1620
old faithful1648
liegeman1823
good soldier1972
1823 W. Scott Peveril II. v. 134 A faithful liegeman to the law as well as the King.
1827 J. Keble Christian Year I. iii. 9 Sworn liegemen of the Cross.
1851 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire III. xxiv. 59 Liegemen of Death and fares of the Stygian ferryman.
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. v. 259 When the dispute lay between the liegemen of the university and those of the state the university haughtily arrogated the authority over both.
1865 F. Parkman Huguenots vii, in Pioneers of France in New World 89 The trespassers, too, were heretics, foes of God and liegemen of the Devil.
1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) I. iii. 86 Raleigh..sent..at five several times, to search for his liege-men.
Derivatives
Π
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Lige, allegiance, or liegemanship.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1375