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leal

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Loyal, faithful, and true—denoting steadfast allegiance, common in chivalric or devotional poetry.

Detailed Definition
“Leal” compresses fidelity into one syllable, common in ballads and oaths. It implies unwavering allegiance—leal heart, leal service. The term’s softness suits vows or elegy. Poets use it to celebrate constancy in love or duty, reinforcing themes of honor, trust, and endurance against betrayal in chivalric and pastoral contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
“She was leal to her vow till death,” in a romance of fidelity; In Scottish poetry: “Leal heart, true hand”; “Call me leal, though all else fail,” declares the knight; “The hound was leal, though master gone”; “Leal service earns eternal grace”; Her leal silence spoke louder than words.
Additional Notes
“Leal” (from Old French “leal”) stresses unwavering loyalty; in chivalric or border ballads, “leal hearts” uphold oaths against betrayal, making it a touchstone of honor in feudal ethics.
Also Known As
loyal faithful true
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