Obs. Also 4 leiance. [a. OF. liance, f. li-er to bind.]
1. Allegiance.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 381. To him belongith the leiance Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe.
2. A group of persons related to or allied with another; = ALLIANCE 4.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1409. A knyȝt þar was of fraunce … hwych was icomen of gret lyaunce. Ibid., 4098. Þou ne dost noȝt ase þe wys If þow y-lyuest sir Alorys, oþer any of his lyaunce.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 1932. For we haue frendes gret plente, That ben alied to ȝow and me, That schal ben to us in mayntenaunce With alle her men and lyaunce.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1747. With a liaunce full large of other lege kyngis, Þat we to helpe vs may haue.
1530. Palsgr., 239/1. Lyaunce kynred, aliance.
3. A kinsman or ally; = ALLIANCE 5.
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 691/14. Hec affinis, a lyans.
1502. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 164. Cousin, I … pray you to be good master to Nycholas Lee, my lyanse [printed lyaufe].
