▪ I. † aˈllegeance1 Obs.
Forms: 4–5 alegeance, -aunce, -eaunce, all-, allegg-, erron. allegiance.
[a. OFr. alegeance, alejance, mod. allégeance, f. aléger to relieve: see allege v.1, and -ance.]
Alleviation, lightening, relief.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 85 Mo and mo Þer come for enlegeance to habbe of heore wo. c 1315 Shoreham 42 Alleggaunce of his sennes. a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornt. MS. 8 In lyghtenes and alegeance of þaire sekenes. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4570 Sende me socour or allegeaunce. c 1430 Lydg. Bochas ii. vii. (1554) 49 b, And of his peyne feleth alegeaunce. 1483 Caxton Cato h vij, Alegeaunce of a ryght grete and heuy fardel. |
▪ II. † allegeance2 Obs. or Sc.
Forms: 4 allegiaunce, 5 allegyaunce, 6 allegeaunce, 6–7 alledgance, -eance, allegeance.
[f. allege v.2 + -ance. Cf. OFr. alégance, allégance, med.L. allegantia = allegātio. Chiefly Sc. after 1500.]
The action of producing in court, of citing in evidence, or asserting as capable of proof; allegation.
| c 1400 Apol. for Loll. 60 A juge, ȝeuing a sentens aȝen a innocent man after allegiaunce & prouid, sinniþ deadly. c 1410 N. Love Bonaventura's Mirr. (Gibbs MS.) xxxix. 83 Here lawgheþ þe lollarde and scorneþ holy chyrche in allegeaunce of suche myracules. 1502 Arnold Chron. (1811) 119 Callyng before vs the same partyes..herd their complayntis contrauersies allegeauncis and greuauncis. 1548 Compl. Scotl. 31 Sic opinions ande allegeance suld nocht haue audiens amang cristin pepil. c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Vind. Hamiltons Wks. 1711, 239 Alledgeances, of which they can give no reason. 1671 True Non-Conf. Pref., How foolishly doth he second his allegeances? 1711 Countrey-Man's Let. 94 The alledgeance of the said approbation..is not only groundless but utterly false. |
▪ III. allegeance
obs. variant of allegiance.