Obs. or Sc. Forms: 4 allegiaunce, 5 allegyaunce, 6 allegeaunce, 6–7 alledgance, -eance, allegeance. [f. ALLEGE v.2 + -ANCE. Cf. OFr. alégance, allégance, med.L. allegantia = allegātio. Chiefly Sc. after 1500.] The action of producing in court, of citing in evidence, or asserting as capable of proof; allegation.

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c. 1400.  Apol. for Loll., 60. A juge, ȝeuing a sentens aȝen a innocent man after allegiaunce & prouid, sinniþ deadly.

2

c. 1410.  N. Love, Bonaventura’s Mirr. (Gibbs MS.), xxxix. 83. Here lawgheþ þe lollarde and scorneþ holy chyrche in allegeaunce of suche myracules.

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1502.  Arnold, Chron. (1811), 119. Callyng before vs the same partyes … herd their complayntis contrauersies allegeauncis and greuauncis.

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1548.  Compl. Scotl., 31. Sic opinions ande allegeance suld nocht haue audiens amang cristin pepil.

5

c. 1630.  Drumm. of Hawth., Vind. Hamiltons, Wks. 1711, 239. Alledgeances, of which they can give no reason.

6

1671.  True Non-Conf., Pref. How foolishly doth he second his allegeances?

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1711.  Countrey-Man’s Let., 94. The alledgeance of the said approbation … is not only groundless but utterly false.

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