Loy″al (?), a. [F. loyal, OF. loial, leial, L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law. See Legal, and cf. Leal.]
1. Faithful to law; upholding the lawful authority; faithful and true to the lawful government; faithful to the prince or sovereign to whom one is subject; unswerving in allegiance.
Welcome, sir John! But why come you in arms? -
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do. Shak.
2. True to any person or persons to whom one owes fidelity, especially as a wife to her husband, lovers to each other, and friend to friend; constant; faithful to a cause or a principle.
Your true and loyal wife. Shak.
Unhappy both, but loyaltheir loves. Dryden.