Ligeance

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ligeance \Li"geance\ (l[=e]"jans), n. [OF. ligeance, ligance.
     See {Liege}.] (O. Eng. Law)
     The connection between sovereign and subject by which they
     were mutually bound, the former to protection and the
     securing of justice, the latter to faithful service;
     allegiance. [Written also {ligeancy} and {liegance}.]


     --Chaucer.
     [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  LIGEANCE. The true and faithful obedience of a subject to his sovereign, of 
  a citizen to his government. It signifies also the territory of a sovereign. 
  See Allegiance.