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.

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.

Unhappy both, but loyaltheir loves.

• firm in allegiance to a person or institution
  
• faithful to a person or cause