Plural of allegiance; loyalties or commitments owed to a person, group, nation, or cause.
From Old French 'allegeance,' from 'alligier' meaning 'to bind,' which comes from Latin 'ligare' meaning 'to tie.' The word originally meant the tie or bond between a feudal vassal and their lord.
The word 'allegiance' comes from the feudal system where a vassal literally had to bind themselves to a lord—that's why 'ligare' (to tie) is at the root! We kept the word even after feudalism ended because the concept of loyalty is timeless.
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