Forms: 3–5 lige, 4–5 lyge; 3–6 lege, (4 leyge), 4–6 leege, (5 lech(e, lyche, lysch; legge, ligge, lygge; lieg), 5–6 lyege, 5–7 leig(e, 6 leag(e, (leighe), 6 liedge, (7 leidge), 4– liege. [a. OF. lige, liege (med.L. ligius, legius) = Pr. litge, It. ligio; the ultimate derivation is disputed.
The prevailing view that the word represents an adoption of OHG. ledig free (mod.G. ledig unoccupied) is supported by a passage in a charter of 1253 (Du Cange, s.v. Ledighman), which contains the words ‘ligius homo, quod Teutonice dicitur Ledigh-man.’ The assumption of ‘free’ as the primary sense also seems in accord with the meaning of the med.L. ligia potestas (LIEGE POUSTIE), ligia voluntas.]
A. adj.
1. The characteristic epithet of persons in the relation of feudal superior and vassal.
a. Of the superior: Entitled to feudal allegiance and service. Now rare exc. in liege lord, which is also used fig.
[1292. Britton, III. iv. § 18. Si aucun deive fere homage a autre seignur lige qe a nous.]
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9376. Vr lige louerd þat yeled is And ismered to ihesu crist.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 346. Þat my leyge lady lyked not ille.
1386. Rolls of Parlt., III. 225/1. Owre lige Lorde the Kyng.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 144. Men schull don him reverence As to here liege soverein.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 248. Oure lyge lorde, kynge henry the Fyfte.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 30. Not so my liege lorde.
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 30. It hath pleased God to graunt vs a naturall liege kynge and Lorde.
c. 1620. T. Robinson, M. Magd., II. 1566. Shee … followes her Liege-Lorde ye villages throughout.
1770. Junius Lett., xli. 209. You deserted the fortune of your liege lord.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, II. xx. Who, vassals sworn, ’Gainst their liege lord had weapon borne.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 97. Originally a feudatory of Jaypur, the Raja had taken advantage of the enfeebled condition of his liege lord.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xxi. That is the rule of our liege lord, William.
b. Of the vassal: Bound to render feudal service and allegiance. (Cf. LIEGE MAN.) † Also, owing allegiance to (law).
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1174. Þe lawe þat he was lege tylle.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 147. Al my lige leodes.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 290. Kyngis schulde constreyne … here lyge freris & here oþere clerkis.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. i. [They] brente and slewe the kynges true liege peple.
1538. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 80. A false traitor to his Praynce … and a seditious person to the kinges leighe people.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 137. They shoulde be arrested by the King’s liege people as vagabondes.
1689. S. Johnson, Rem. Sherlock’s Bk., 19. Every Leige-Subject of England has a Legal Property in his Life.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xiii. I had … a right to call on every liege subject to render assistance.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., Liege, bound by some feudal tenure; subject.
† c. transf. of persons in other relationships: Entitled and bound to mutual fidelity. Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4128. I schal loue him lelli as my lege broþer.
c. 1555. Philpot, in Coverdale, Lett. Mart. (1564), 236. The lyuyng lord, which … hath begotten you to be my liege syster, geue you grace so to grow in that generation, that [etc.].
¶ d. Used for: Loyal, faithful. rare.
1478. Certificate, in Surtees Misc. (1888), 37. He is a trewe, lige Inglis man.
1890. C. A. Ansell, trans. A. da Montefeltro’s Confer. in Rome, 46. The materialist, liege to his own system, is incapable of doing anything but put one after another the results of his observations.
2. Of or pertaining to the bond between superior and vassal.
1399. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 424/2. Homage liege and Feaute.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 401. The French maintaining it was a lige homage.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 367. Land held by this exalted species of fealty was called feudum ligium, a liege fee.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), I. 99. They … always refused to pay liege-homage, which implied an obligation of service to the lord.
B. sb.
1. The superior to whom one owes feudal allegiance and service; = liege lord.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 134. Þe lege þat hom lede shuld.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 302/2. Lyche, lady or lorde,… ligius.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 42/2. Ye my liege quod the Duke of Buckingham thei haue [etc.].
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. Prol. 247. The larkis … Lovys thar lege with tonys curyus.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 8. The Miser threw him selfe Streight at his foot in base humilitee. And cleeped him his liege, to hold of him in fee.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 291. My Liege, your Highnesse now may doe mee good.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., V. (1623), Lj. Shee … Most humbly begging in hir Dorik straines Of hir dear Liege leaue to be gone.
1637. R. Humphrey, trans. St. Ambrose, II. 41. He would not be profuse and prodigall of another mans good, much lesse of his Leiges.
1705. J. Philips, Blenheim, 396. The Natives, dubious whom They must Obey, in Consternation wait, Till rigid Conquest will pronounce their Liege.
1706. Addison, Rosamond, I. vi. Nay, good my Liege, with patience hear.
1785. Paley, Mor. Philos. (1818), I. 191. The form of doing homage at this day, by putting the hands between the knees, and within the hands of the liege.
1788. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Peter’s Pension, Wks. 1812, II. 5. No less, my royal liege, than you and me.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xlvi. ‘In the name of God, my liege,’ said the Duke of Ormond, ‘let’ [etc.].
1837. Browning, Strafford, II. ii. 35. My liege, do not believe it! I am yours.
2. A vassal bound to serve his superior, a liege man. Hence in a wider sense: A loyal subject of the king.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 56. Alle his lele lyges.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 338. The kinges founde here oghne liege … That hem forsoke and desobeide.
1414. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 22/2. Youre humble and trewe lieges that ben come for the Co[mmun]e of youre lond.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 303/1. Lyche, man or womann (P. ligius).
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 47. God almyȝty kepe oure kynge to ioye of his ligeys.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 533. Xxty thousand off lele legis off France.
1549. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 271. Tha had offendit … to the quenis grace of Scotland, in the taking,… of the said William … he beand hir fre liege and subdict.
1648. D. Jenkins, Wks., Table, His Leidges are bound by Oath to remove the King.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Disc. xi. 148. For kings and all that are in authority we may … pray for peaceable reign, true lieges, strong armies [etc.].
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxvii. Her Majesty, being detained by her gracious desire to receive the homage of her lieges.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 97. The emperor’s lieges.
1880. Kinglake, Crimea, VI. ix. 380. In future campaigns the lieges shall not be the marplots they were in the days of Lord Raglan.
