a. [ OE. lige, lege, F. lige, LL. ligius, legius, liege, unlimited, complete, prob. of German origin; cf. G. ledig free from bonds and obstacles, MHG. ledec, ledic, lidic, freed, loosed, and Charta Ottonis de Benthem, ann. 1253, “ligius homo quod Teutonicè dicitur ledigman, ” i. e., uni soli homagio obligatus, free from all obligations to others; influenced by L. ligare to bind. G. ledig perh. orig. meant, free to go where one pleases, and is perh. akin to E. lead to conduct. Cf. Lead to guide. ]
She looked as grand as doomsday and as grave;
And he, he reverenced his liege lady there. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
Liege homage (Feudal Custom),
Liege poustie [ L. legitima potestas ] (Scots Law),
Liege widowhood,
n.
The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans,
Liege of all loiterers and malcontents. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
A liege lord seems to have been a lord of a free band; and his lieges, though serving under him, were privileged men, free from all other obligations, their name being due to their freedom, not to their service. Skeat. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.;
n. [ See Leger, Ledger. ] A resident ambassador. [ Obs. ]