名词 (n.) 忠诚,效忠;尤指封建时代封臣对领主的忠诚与义务。
/ˈfiːəlti/
The knight swore fealty to his king before the entire court.
骑士在全体朝臣面前向国王宣誓效忠。
In the modern corporate world, employees are no longer expected to pledge fealty to a single company for their entire careers.
在现代企业中,员工不再被期望一辈子只效忠于一家公司。
源自古法语 feauté,最终来自拉丁语 fidelitas,意为"忠诚、忠实",与英语单词 fidelity(忠诚)同根。这个词在中世纪封建制度中尤为重要,封臣(vassal)获得领主的土地后,须向领主行效忠礼(oath of fealty),承诺忠诚和服务。