alegiaunce

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Anglo-Norman alegaunce (loyalty of a liege-servant to one's lord), a modification of legaunce influenced by other words starting with the prefix a-. Equivalent to a- +‎ legiaunce.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /aˌleːˈdʒa(u̯)ns(ə)/, /aˌliːˈdʒa(u̯)ns(ə)/, /aˈleːdʒa(u̯)ns(ə)/, /aˈliːdʒa(u̯)ns(ə)/

Noun

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alegiaunce (uncountable) (uncommon)

  1. Allegiance, loyalty (including duty and responsibility to one's feudal superior).
    Synonym: legiaunce
  2. The power exercised or available to a feudal liege or superior.
    Synonym: legiaunce

Usage notes

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  • Middle English stress retraction would have regularly led to first-syllable stress; pronunciations with second-syllable stress are probably due to the influence of the more common legiaunce.

Descendants

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  • English: allegiance
  • Scots: allegiance

References

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