Liege

[leej, leezh] /lidʒ, liʒ/

noun
1.
a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.
2.
a feudal vassal or subject.
adjective
3.
owing primary allegiance and service to a feudal lord.
4.
pertaining to the relation between a feudal vassal and lord.
5.
loyal; faithful:
the liege adherents of a cause.
[lee-eyzh; French lyezh] /liˈeɪʒ; French lyɛʒ/
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. 1521 sq. mi. (3940 sq. km).
Capital: Liège.
/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
3.
of or relating to the relationship or bond between liege lord and liegeman: liege homage
4.
faithful; loyal
noun
5.
a liege lord
6.
a liegeman or true subject
/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)
adj.

word used by a vassal to address his superior or lord in the feudal system, c.1300, from Anglo-French lige (late 13c.), Old French lige “(feudal) liege, free, giving or receiving fidelity,” perhaps from Late Latin laeticus “cultivated by serfs,” from laetus “serf,” which probably is from Proto-Germanic *lethiga- “freed” (cf. Old English læt “half-freedman, serf;” Old High German laz, Old Frisian lethar “freedman”), from PIE root *le- “let go, slacken” (see let (v.)). Or the Middle English word may be directly from Old High German leidig “free.” As a noun from late 14c., both as “vassal” and “lord.” Hence, liege-man “a vassal sworn to the service and support of a lord, who in turn is obliged to protect him” (mid-14c.).