/leej, leezh/ , n.
1. a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.
2. a feudal vassal or subject.
adj.
3. owing primary allegiance and service to a feudal lord.
4. pertaining to the relation between a feudal vassal and lord.
5. loyal; faithful: the liege adherents of a cause.
[ 1250-1300; ME li ( e ) ge let- vassal + L -icus -IC; cf. ML leti barbarians allowed to settle on Roman land ( 1 ), laeticus for * leticus, deriv. of leti ]