liegeman

IPA/ˈliːdʒmən/

liegeman — noun

  • liegemansingular
  • liegemenplural

1. a man who promised to serve and be loyal to a king or lord in the medieval feuda

1.名詞C2
釋義

a man who promised to serve and be loyal to a king or lord in the medieval feudal system, in exchange for land or protection.

例句

Each liegeman knelt before his lord and swore an oath of loyalty.

collocation: swear an oath of loyalty

As a liegeman of the Duke, Dario was expected to provide soldiers during wartime.

同義詞
  • vassal

    the more common modern term; liegeman emphasises the personal oath of loyalty more strongly

  • feudal tenant

    a more formal, legal description focusing on the land-holding arrangement

  • retainer

    a servant or follower who lives in the lord's household, not necessarily holding land

反義詞
  • liege lord

    the person the liegeman serves, not the follower

  • overlord

    a lord above the liegeman's immediate lord

用法筆記

This historical sense is almost always used in discussions of medieval European feudalism. The plural form 'liegemen' is common.

常見錯誤

❌The knight was a liegeman of the church.
✅The knight was a vassal of the church.
💡'liegeman' specifically refers to a personal oath to a feudal lord or king, not an institution.

2. a person who supports someone or something with complete loyalty and devotion, o

2.名詞C2
釋義

a person who supports someone or something with complete loyalty and devotion, often used in formal or literary contexts.

例句

The minister has been a loyal liegeman of the prime minister for over two decades.

collocation: loyal liegeman + of [person]

In the novel, Tendai plays the role of a faithful liegeman to the aging general.

同義詞
  • follower

    neutral and common; lacks the feudal/ceremonial overtones

  • devotee

    stronger emotional attachment, often used for causes or hobbies

  • disciple

    implies learning from a teacher or leader; stronger than liegeman in intellectual/spiritual contexts

反義詞
  • opponent

    someone who actively works against the person or cause

  • traitor

    someone who betrays the loyalty a liegeman would show

用法筆記

Strongly metaphorical in modern use — it creates a deliberately formal or old-fashioned tone. Unlike 'supporter' or 'follower', it implies a personal bond rather than a casual or political alignment.

常見錯誤

❌She is a liegeman of the environmental movement.
✅She is a devoted supporter of the environmental movement.
💡'liegeman' carries a masculine connotation ('man') and a feudal formality that sounds unnatural with modern causes.