| 释义 |
loyal, a. and n.|ˈlɔɪəl|
Also 6–7 loyall, 7 loial(l.
[a. F. loyal, OF. loial, leial, semi-popular ad. L. lēgāl-em (see legal a.), f. lēg-, lēx law. Cf. leal a.]
A. adj.
1. True to obligations of duty, love, etc.; faithful to plighted troth.
1604Shakes. Oth. iv. ii. 35 Your wife my Lord: your true and loyall wife. 1611― Cymb. iii. ii. 47 So he wishes you all happinesse, that remaines loyall to his Vow, and your encreasing in Loue. 1651Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxv. 217 Abraham..the Father of the Faithfull; that is, of those that are loyall. 1676Dryden Aurengz. i. i. 186 Darah from Loyal Aurenge-Zebe is fled. 1697― æneid vi. 607 [There] Chast Laodamia, with Evadne, moves: Unhappy both, but loyal in their Loves. 1859Tennyson Elaine 558 Nor often loyal to his word. 1871R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxiv. 182 Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me. 1871–74J. Thomson City Dreadf. Nt. v. iv, A home of peace by loyal friendships cheered.
2. Faithful in allegiance to the sovereign or constituted government. Also, in recent use, enthusiastically devoted or reverential to the person and family of the sovereign.
Originally a contextual application of sense 1. As in the case of other words of similar or opposite meaning (as leal, feal; traitor, treason) the specific feudal use has in English become a distinct sense, and the one most prominent in use.
1531Elyot Gov. Proheme, I..do nowe dedicate it vnto your hyghnesse [the King]..verely trustynge that your moste excellent wysedome wyll therein esteme my loyall harte and diligent endeauour. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, i. i. 181 A Iewell in a ten times barr'd vp Chest, Is a bold spirit, in a loyall brest. 1595― John ii. i. 271 He that proues the King To him will we proue loyall. 1611Bible 2 Macc. xi. 19 If then you wil keepe your selues loyall to the state [LXX. ἐὰν µὲν οὖν συντηρήσητε τὴν εἰς τὰ πράγµατα εὔνοιαν]. 1620J. Wilkinson Coroners & Sherifes 3 That all coroners..should be chosen..of the most convenientest and most loialst people that may be found in the said counties. a1677Barrow Serm. Wks. 1686 III. 48 He must reign over us, if not as over loyal Subjects to our comfort, yet as over stubborn Rebels to our confusion. 1702Dennis Monument xxxvi. 76 His loyal'st Subjects too divided were. 1784Cowper Task vi. 661 The simple clerk, but loyal,..did rear right merrily, two staves, Sung to the praise and glory of King George. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 209 The king pressed them, as they were loyal gentlemen, to gratify him. 1887Tennyson Jubilee Q. Victoria iv, And in each let a multitude Loyal, each, to the heart of it,..Hail the fair Ceremonial Of this year of her Jubilee. 1897Sir W. Laurier Speech in Daily News 5 July 4/3 We [sc. French Canadians] are loyal because we are free.
3. Of things, actions, etc.: Characterized by or exhibiting loyalty; loyal toast, a toast proposed and drunk (in the U.K. and British Commonwealth) to the monarch or (elsewhere) to some other important personage.
1598Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 68 Each faire Instalment, Coate, and seu'rall Crest, With loyall Blazon, euermore be blest. 1600Holland Livy xlv. 1209 They had received great helpe at his hands in the Punick warre by his valiant and loiall service. 1601Shakes. Twel. N. i. v. 289 Ol. Why, what would you? Vio... Write loyall Cantons of contemned loue. 1799Times 1 June 3/4 Many Loyal Toasts were given, and the day spent with great conviviality. 1802Wordsw. Sonn., ‘Is it a reed that's shaken’, A seemly reverence may be paid to power; But that's a loyal virtue, never sown In haste. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz; Public Dinners, The other ‘loyal and patriotic’ toasts having been drunk with all due enthusiasm. 1858[see Highland a. 2 a]. 1872Blackie Lays Highl. 67 For strong men who knew to do and dare I drop the loyal tear. 1970M. Kelly Spinifex xi. 166 ‘Gentlemen—’ Matsuda barked.. ‘The Loyal Toast!’ 1972Guardian 9 May 15/4 It was the most miserable meal I have ever presided over, and I had not the heart to propose the Loyal Toast at the end. 1974Ibid. 25 Jan. 10/4 The time was come for toasts and speeches. After the Loyal Toast, Blackadder clipped his cigar.
†4. = legal in certain senses.
a. Of a child: Legitimate.
b. Of money: Genuine, legally current. Of goods: Of the legal standard of quality. Obs.
1605Shakes. Lear ii. i. 86 Loyall and naturall Boy. 1660Waterhouse Arms & Arm. 34 Cognizance is taken..of what House Gentlemen are, from what branch of that House, whether loyall or spurious. 1690Child Disc. Trade (ed. 4) 159 Our Laws that oblige our people to the making of strong, substantial (and, as we call it, loyal) cloth of a certain length.
5. Manège. (See quot.; cf. F. cheval loyal, bouche loyale.) ? Obs.
1727Bailey vol. II. s.v., A Horse is said to be loyal, who freely bends all his Force in obeying and performing any manage he is put to; and does not..resist, altho' he is ill treated. Loyal Mouth [of a Horse]..of the Nature of such Mouths, as are usually called Mouths with a full rest upon the Hand.
6. Comb., as loyal-hearted adj.
1599Warn. Faire Wom. i. 468 To his wife, in all this city, none More kind, more loyal-hearted. 1850Tennyson In Mem. cx, On thee the loyal-hearted hung.
B. n. pl.
†a. Those who are bound by allegiance; liege subjects (obs.).
b. In recent use: Loyal subjects, as opposed to disaffected persons.
c1540tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 36) I. 177 After the forthe yeare of his [Ethelbertus'] reigne he was semblabie murthered of his owne loyals. 1602Carew Cornwall 97 Being destitute of horses and treasure, he [Earl Richard] prayed therein ayde of his loyals. 1885Fortn. Rev. Oct. 604 From the Diamond Fields alone a large contingent of loyals can always be reckoned upon. 1887Rider Haggard Jess xxvii, Whoever says that the English have given up the country..and deserted its subjects and the loyals and the natives, is a liar. |