loyal
/ˈlɔɪəl/
adjective
Origin
Latin
legalis — pertaining to the law
Overview
Meaning Now
- Giving or showing firm and constant support to a person, institution, or cause.
- Faithful in allegiance to a sovereign, government, or state.
Literal older meaning
Consistent with the law
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
loial
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word entered English as a doublet of 'legal'. While 'legal' retained a direct connection to the formal requirements of law, 'loyal' shifted to denote a moral obligation to be faithful to a person or sovereign, reflecting the feudal values of the Middle Ages.
Evolution
- Latin
legalis
“according to law”
- Old French
loial
“faithful, lawful”
developed through phonetic reduction of the 'g'
- Middle English
loial
“faithful to one's word or obligation”
- Modern English
loyal
“faithful, devoted”
Connections
Word parts
loy-
root
law
-al
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
French
loyal, faithful
Spanish
leal
loyal
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Related to loyal
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.