'Liege' seems to most often refer to a man. Is that because most lords in history and fiction are men, or because 'liege' is a masculine noun? If the latter, is there a feminine counterpart?
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1English nouns do not generally have grammatical gender. Vestiges of it survive in a few loan words, but it has no grammatical function in English.– Bradd SzonyeApr 19, 2014 at 5:18
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1Sorry, I'm not meaning to ask about strict grammatical gender. What are the proper terms for gendered terms like 'milkman' and 'congresswomen' if not 'masculine' and 'feminine'?– ladenedgeApr 19, 2014 at 5:59
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3 Answers
To my knowledge, there is no feminine form of the noun liege. There are obvious historical reasons for this, but I lack the knowledge to give an apt explanation.
However, the decidedly masculine phrase liege lord was also quite common and more or less identical in meaning. Although I have never knowingly come across it in reading, the obvious feminine form of this is liege lady. Google Ngram leads me to believe that liege lady is used at least occasionally.
The more direct feminine form would seem to be liegess, but I have never seen or heard it used, nor does Google Ngram display a single instance of it.
“In general, my liege lady,’ he began, ‘Women desire to have dominion Over their husbands, and their lovers too; They want to have mastery over them. That’s what you most desire—even if my life Is forfeit. I am here; do what you like.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales
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1As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please edit to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.– Community BotJul 17, 2022 at 5:58
Liege (adj.)
word used by a vassal to address his superior or lord in the feudal system, c.1300, from Anglo-French lige (late 13c.), Old French lige "(feudal) liege, free, giving or receiving fidelity," perhaps from Late Latin laeticus "cultivated by serfs," from laetus "serf," which probably is from Proto-Germanic *lethiga- "freed" (cognates: Old English læt "half-freedman, serf;" Old High German laz, Old Frisian lethar "freedman"), from PIE root *le- "let go, slacken" (see let (v.)). Or the Middle English word may be directly from Old High German leidig "free." As a noun from late 14c., both as "vassal" and "lord." Hence, liege-man "a vassal sworn to the service and support of a lord, who in turn is obliged to protect him" (mid-14c.).Source: Etymonline
It's origin, anyway, seems to support your view on its use being mainly referred to men.