loyal: [16] Loyal, ultimately the same word as legal, has a double history in English. It was originally acquired in the 13th century as leal. This came from Anglo-Norman leal, a descendant of Latin lēgālis ‘legal’. Then in the 16th century it was reborrowed from the modern French form loyal. The semantic link is ‘faithfully carrying out (legal) obligations’. => legal
loyal (adj.)
1530s, in reference to subjects of sovereigns or governments, from Middle French loyal, from Old French loial, leal "of good quality; faithful; honorable; law-abiding; legitimate, born in wedlock," from Latin legalem, from lex "law." In most cases it has displaced Middle English leal, which is from the same French source. Sense development in English is feudal, via notion of "faithful in carrying out legal obligations." In a general sense (of dogs, lovers, etc.), from c. 1600. As a noun meaning "those who are loyal" from 1530s (originally often in plural).
实用例句
1. I thanked them for their long and loyal service.
对于他们长期以来忠诚的效力我非常感谢。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He has 20 years of loyal service to Barclays Bank behind him.
他已经忠心耿耿地为巴克莱银行效力了20年。
来自柯林斯例句
3. She was caustically brilliant, yet totally loyal, unpretentious, human and tolerant.
她这个人才气逼人，可是绝对忠诚可靠，而且毫不做作，有人情味和宽容心。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He went back to Yorkshire to join his loyal, long-suffering wife.
