liege

UK: /liːdʒ/ US: (lēj, lēzh)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

liege  (lēj, lēzh), n. 

1. World History a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.
2. World History a feudal vassal or subject.

adj. 

3. World History owing primary allegiance and service to a feudal lord.
4. World History pertaining to the relation between a feudal vassal and lord.
5. loyal;
   faithful:
   the liege adherents of a cause.

• Gmc; perh. akin to let¹), laeticus for *lēticus, derivative of lētī
• Old French li(e)ge Gmc *lēt- vassal + Latin -icus -ic; compare Medieval Latin lētī barbarians allowed to settle on Roman land (
• Middle English 1250–1300

Li•ège  (lē āzh′; Fr. lyezh), n. 

1. Place Names a city in E Belgium, on the Meuse River: one of the first cities attacked in World War I. 139,333.
2. Place Names a province in E Belgium. 1,019,226;
   1521 sq. mi. (3940 sq. km). Cap.: Liège.

Flemish, Luik. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

liege / liːdʒ/ adjective

1. (of a lord) owed feudal allegiance (esp in the phrase liege lord)
2. (of a vassal or servant) owing feudal allegiance: a liege subject
3. faithful; loyal

noun

1. a liege lord
2. a liegeman or true subject

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French lige, from Medieval Latin līticus, from lītus, laetus serf, of Germanic origin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Liège / lɪˈeɪʒ ljɛʒ/ noun

1. a province of E Belgium: formerly a principality of the Holy Roman Empire, much larger than the present-day province. Pop: 1 029 605 (2004 est). Area: 3877 sq km (1497 sq miles)
2. a city in E Belgium, capital of Liège province: the largest French-speaking city in Belgium; river port and industrial centre. Pop: 185 488 (2004 est)

Flemish name: Luik