Friday, March 03, 2006

Ads: "Rest well, my liege"

Courtyard Marriott has quite a creative, positive TV commercial about business professionals who are dedicated front-line "road warriors" that are, in turn, worthy of the hotel chain's service, obeisance, and respect. The last line, however, intones, "Rest well, my liege" -- but here, liege is a misnomer, because it implies servitude or loyalty to a superior (lord), which in this context would refer to the hotel chain. From the Merriam-Webster [MW]:

Pronunciation: 'lEj
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin laeticus, from laetus serf, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Frisian let serf
1 a : having the right to feudal allegiance or service "his liege lord" b : obligated to render feudal allegiance and service
2 : FAITHFUL, LOYAL

Function: noun
1 a : a vassal bound to feudal service and allegiance b : a loyal subject
2 : a feudal superior to whom allegiance and service are due

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