Word of the Day for Thursday July 14, 2005 fealty \FEE-uhl-tee\, noun: 1. Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord. 2. The oath by which this obligation was assumed. 3. Fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness. He was re-elected Governor in 1855, and his administration of the State affairs, both in that and the preceding term of office, was marked by a regard for the public interest rather than party fealty. --"Andrew Johnson Dead," [1]New York Times, August 1, 1875 Barbour believed Christian conservatives represented a critical constituency, and he looked for opportunities to display his fealty to them. --Dan Balz and Ronald Brownstein, [2]Storming the Gates The aristocratic O'Sullivans were enriched in return for their promise of fealty to the mighty Democratic party and its rising new leader. --Edward L. Widmer, [3]Young America Whether exploited by traditional religions or political religions, psychological totalism -- the unquestioning fealty to one God, one truth, and one right, embodied in one faith, one cause, one party -- has everywhere provided the tinder of persecution. --Jack Beatty, "The Tyranny of Belief," [4]The Atlantic, September 13, 2000 _________________________________________________________ Fealty comes from Old French fealté, from Latin fidelitas, "fidelity," from fidelis, "faithful," from fides, "faith," from fidere, "to trust." References 1. http://www.nytimes.com/ 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316080381/ref=nosim/lexico 3. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195140621/ref=nosim/lexico 4. http://www.theatlantic.com/ Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=fealty