delity

Delity is a term that is rarely used in modern English and is generally regarded as an archaic or erroneous variant of fidelity. Fidelity describes faithfulness, loyalty, or accuracy in reflecting or preserving original information, standards, or commitments. Because delity is not a standard or widely accepted spelling, contemporary dictionaries typically label it as obsolete, historical, or incorrect outside of quotation contexts.

In historical or literary texts you may encounter delity as an old-fashioned spelling or typographical variant of fidelity. In current usage, editors and writers usually substitute fidelity to convey the intended meaning. The related noun fealty, while similar in connotation to loyalty and allegiance, emphasizes loyalty to a lord or sovereign and is distinct from fidelity’s emphasis on truthfulness and precision.

Delity can also appear as a proper noun, though it is not well documented as a common surname or place name. When used as a name, it is more often encountered in rare or regional contexts rather than as a widely recognized identifier.

In summary, delity does not denote a separate concept in contemporary English. It is best treated as an obsolete or erroneous variant of fidelity, with the standard term fidelity preferred in both general and technical writing. Related terms to consider for related meanings include fidelity, which focuses on accuracy and truthfulness, and fealty, which centers on sworn loyalty.