Category:Fidelity

Fi*del"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fidelitas: cf. F. fidélité. See Fealty.]

Defn: Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations. Especially: (a) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty. Whose courageous fidelity was proof to all danger. Macaulay. The best security for the fidelity of men is to make interest coincide with duty. A. Hamilton.

(b) Adherence to the marriage contract. (c) Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty. The principal thing required in a witness is fidelity. Hooker.

Syn. -- Faithfulness; honesty; integrity; faith; loyalty; fealty.