noun

allegiance

uh-LEE-jens/əˈliːdʒəns/

Loyalty or commitment to someone or something.

The vassal shows allegiance by placing his joined hands in his lord's.

A medieval vassal kneels before his seated lord, placing his joined hands between the lord's hands in the recognizable homage gesture of personal allegiance.

Etymology

allegianceAnglo-Frencha liege-man's loyalty to his lord

Anglo-French legaunce named a liege-man's loyalty to his lord, a relationship of service in return for protection. That feudal duty broadened into loyalty to a person, group, or cause.

In context

Stuart Fernie4:00

their loss proves too much for mike whose allegiance has reached its limit mike's life appears to be governed by loyalty gratitude and indebtedness

Reflections on characters and themes in Road to Perdition (2002)

More examples

She pledged allegiance to the new government.
Their allegiance shifted during the conflict.
He remained firm in his allegiance to the cause.

Forms

allegiance

Similar words

loyalty: The broader commitment, not necessarily owed to an authority.
fidelity: Fidelity emphasizes faithfulness to commitments rather than political or group attachment.