Etymology Map
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Loyal

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means giving firm support to someone

Where does the word "loyal" come from? It comes from Latin legalis, passing through Old French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
legalis
Latin · ancient
"legal"
from 'lex', law: faithful to the law
2
Stage 2 of 3
loial
Old French · medieval
"faithful"
'loyal' and 'legal' are doublets
3
Stage 3 of 3
loyal
English · 1530s
"faithful"
'loyalist' dates from the 1640s
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Read the full story

Loyal’s story begins in Latin: legalis meant “legal.” From 'lex', law: faithful to the law. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as loial. 'loyal' and 'legal' are doublets. It reached English by 1530s as loyal. 'loyalist' dates from the 1640s. Today, loyal means giving firm support to someone.