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leal. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
leal, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
leal in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
leal you have here. The definition of the word
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leal, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English leel, lel, borrowed from Anglo-Norman leal and Old French leial, from Latin lēgālis. Doublet of loyal and legal.
Pronunciation
Adjective
leal (comparative lealer, superlative lealest)
- (now chiefly Scotland) Loyal, honest.
1848, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son:Mr Toots, like the leal and trusty soul he was, stopped the cabriolet in a twinkling, and told Susan Nipper of his commission, at which she cried more than before.
2000, George R. R. Martin, A Storm of Swords, Bantam, published 2011, page 858:We thank you for the pure white fire of his goodness, for the red sword of justice in his hand, for the love he bears his leal people.
- (now only Scotland) True, genuine.
1885, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, “In which are Continued the Refinements wherewith Don Quixote Played the Part of a Lover in the Sierra Morena”, in John Ormsby, transl., The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha In Four Vols, volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co. , →OCLC, part I, page 30:The lealest lover time can show, / Doomed for a lady-love to languish, / Among these solitudes doth go, / A prey to every kind of anguish.
Anagrams
Galician
Etymology
From Old Galician-Portuguese, from Latin legālis. Compare legal.
Adjective
leal m or f (plural leais)
- adhering to the rules of propriety, fair, honest, loyal, true
- Antonym: desleal
Derived terms
Ladin
Etymology
From Latin legālis.
Adjective
leal m (feminine singular leala, masculine plural leai, feminine plural leales)
- loyal
- honest
Synonyms
Old French
Adjective
leal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular leal)
- Alternative form of loial
Declension
Portuguese
- leial (obsolete spelling)
Etymology
From Old Galician-Portuguese leal, from Latin legālis. Doublet of legal, borrowed from the same source.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
- Hyphenation: le‧al
Adjective
leal m or f (plural leais, comparable, comparative mais leal, superlative o mais leal or lealíssimo)
- adhering to the rules of propriety, fair, honest, loyal, true
- Antonym: desleal
Derived terms
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian leale.
Adjective
leal m or n (feminine singular leală, masculine plural leali, feminine and neuter plural leale)
- loyal, faithful
Declension
Scots
Etymology
From Middle English leel, lel, borrowed from Anglo-Norman leal and Old French leial, from Latin lēgālis.
Pronunciation
Adjective
leal (comparative mair leal, superlative maist leal)
- loyal
- true, pure
Spanish
Etymology
Inherited from Old Spanish, from Latin legālis. See also the borrowed doublet legal.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /leˈal/
- Rhymes: -al
- Syllabification: le‧al
Adjective
leal m or f (masculine and feminine plural leales)
- adhering to the rules of propriety, fair, honest, loyal, true
- Synonym: fiel
- Antonym: desleal
Derived terms
Further reading