fid-, fidel-

Translation: "Be thou a faithful soldier."

Translation: "Be ever faithful."

Translation: "Be ye faithful."

Translation: "Be faithful."

The obligation of trustworthiness on the part of a feudal tenant or vassal to his lord.

1. A form of government in which governmental power is shared between a central government and individual states, provinces, regions, etc. which give up some political powers; such as, foreign affairs, to the central government while keeping a limited measure of self-government: "A federal country or system is one in which individual states make their own laws, but a national government is responsible for areas such as military defense and foreign policy."
2. Relating to, involving, or typical of a classical style of architecture, decoration, and furniture popular in the United States in the late 18th and the early 19th centuries.
3. Etymology: from the 1640's, as a theological term, from French fédéral which came from Latin foedus, foederis, "covenant, league, treaty, alliance"; related to fides, "faith".

The meaning, "pertaining to a treaty" is from the 1650's and led to the political sense of "a state formed by agreement among independent states" from 1707; then from phrases like "federal union" it became "union based on a treaty" then in 1776-1787, it became a common reference to the formation of the United States of America.

1. A country formed by separate states which have yielded certain powers to a central government while keeping control over local issues.
2. An organization which consists of smaller organizations that are joined together: "Sharon was a member of a federation of women's clubs."

1. A man to whom a woman is engaged to be married.
2. Etymology: from French, past participle of fiancer, "to betroth"; from Old French fiancier, from fiancé, "trust"; from fier, "to trust"; from Latin fidere, "to trust".

Translation: "By faith and by letters."

Motto of St. Paul's School, London, U.K.