Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Loyal

Loyal , adjective

[French loyal, Old French loial, leial, Latin legalis, from lex, legis, law. See Legal, and compare 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. — Shakespeare
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. — Shakespeare
Unhappy both, but loyaltheir loves. — Dryden