d
to _advance_ a theory, and _adduce_ the strongest possible evidence in
its support; they will _produce_ documents and witnesses, _cite_
precedents, _assign_ reasons, _introduce_ suggestions, _offer_ pleas.
The accused will usually _assert_ his innocence. Compare STATE.

* * * * *

ALLEGIANCE.

Synonyms:

devotion, fealty, loyalty, obedience, subjection.
faithfulness, homage,

_Allegiance_ is the obligation of fidelity and obedience that an
individual owes to his government or sovereign, in return for the
protection he receives. The feudal uses of these words have mostly
passed away with the state of society that gave them birth; but their
origin still colors their present meaning. A patriotic American feels an
enthusiastic _loyalty_ to the republic; he takes, on occasion, an oath
of _allegiance_ to the government, but his _loyalty_ will lead him to do
more than mere _allegiance_ could demand; he pays _homage_ to God alone,
as the only king and lord, or to those principles of right that are
spiritually supreme; he acknowledges the duty of _obedience_ to all
rightful authority; he resents the idea of _subjection_. _Fealty_ is
becoming somewhat rare, except in elevated or poetic style. We prefer to
speak of the _faithfulness_ rather than the _fealty_ of citizen, wife,
or friend.

Antonyms:

disaffection, disloyalty, rebellion, sedition, treason.

Prepositions:

We honor the allegiance _of_ the citizen _to_ the government; the
government has a right to allegiance _from_ the citizen.

* * * * *

ALLEGORY.

Synonyms:

fable, fiction, illustration, metaphor, parable, simile.

In modern usage we may say that an _allegory_ is an extended _simile_,
while a _metaphor_ is an abbreviated _simile_ contained often in a
phrase, perhaps in a word. The _simile_ carries its comparison on the
surface, in the words _as_, _like_, or similar expressions; the
_metaphor_ is given directly without any note of comparison. The
_allegory_, _parable_, or _fable_ tells its story as if true, leaving
the reader or hearer to discover its fictitious character and learn its
lesson. All these are, in strict definition, _fictions_; but the word
_fiction_ is now applied almost exclusively to novels or romances. An
_allegory_ is a moral or religious tale, of which the moral lesson is
the substance, and all descriptions and incidents but accessorie