liege

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Pronunciation

• (British, GA) IPA: /liːdʒ/, /liːʒ/

Noun

liege (plural lieges)

1. A free and independent person; specifically, a lord paramount; a sovereign.
2. (in full liege lord) A king or lord.
   • 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, Act III Scene 2

     More health and happiness betide my liege / Than can my care-tuned tongue deliver him!

3. The subject of a sovereign or lord; a liegeman.

Translations

• French: suzerain
• German: Lehnsherr
• Portuguese: senhor feudal, suserano
• Russian: сеньо́р
• Spanish: señor feudal

Translations

• German: Gefolgsmann, Vasall
• Italian: vassallo
• Portuguese: vassalo
• Spanish: vasallo

Adjective

liege (not comparable)

1. Sovereign; independent; having authority or right to allegiance.

   a liege lord

   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, The Princess

     She look'd as grand as doomsday and as grave: / And he, he reverenced his liege lady there;

2. Serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, such as a vassal to his lord; faithful.

   a liege man; a liege subject

3. (obsolete, legal) Full; perfect; complete; pure.

Translations

• French: lige

Translations

• French: lige

Related terms

• liege lord
• liegeman

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