Defn: Pertaining to or designating the humid division of the
Transition zone extending across the northern United States from New
England to eastern Dakota, and including also most of Pennsylvania
and the mountainous region as far south as northern Georgia.
ALLEGHENY; ALLEGHANY
Al"le*ghe`ny, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the Allegheny Mountains, or the region where they are situated. Also Al"le*gha`ny.
2. [From the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.] (Geol.) Pertaining to or designating a subdivision of the Pennsylvanian coal measure.
ALLEGIANCE
Al*le"giance, n. Etym: [OE. alegeaunce; pref. a- + OF. lige, liege.
The meaning was influenced by L. ligare to bind, and even by lex,
legis, law. See Liege, Ligeance.]
1. The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king, government, or state.
2. Devotion; loyalty; as, allegiance to science.
Syn. — Loyalty; fealty. — Allegiance, Loyalty. These words agree in expressing the general idea of fidelity and attachment to the "powers that be." Allegiance is an obligation to a ruling power. Loyalty is a feeling or sentiment towards such power. Allegiance may exist under any form of government, and, in a republic, we generally speak of allegiance to the government, to the state, etc. In well conducted monarchies, loyalty is a warm-hearted feeling of fidelity and obedience to the sovereign. It is personal in its nature; and hence we speak of the loyalty of a wife to her husband, not of her allegiance. In cases where we personify, loyalty is more commonly the word used; as, loyalty to the constitution; loyalty to the cause of virtue; loyalty to truth and religion, etc. Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me! Shak. So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found, . . . Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal. Milton.
ALLEGIANT
Al*le"giant, a.
Defn: Loyal. Shak.