liege

¹ American  

[leej, leezh] / lidʒ, liʒ /

noun

1. a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.

2. a feudal vassal or subject.

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adjective

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

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

3. loyal; faithful.

   the liege adherents of a cause.

Liège ² American  

[lee-eyzh, lyezh] / liˈeɪʒ, 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. 1,521 sq. mi. (3,940 sq. km). Liège.

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liege ¹ British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a liege lord

2. a liegeman or true subject

Liège ² British  

/ lɪˈeɪʒ, 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)

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Etymology

Origin of liege

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 let ¹ ), laeticus for *lēticus, derivative of lētī