legend
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Legend
Etymology
From Middle English legende, from Old French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda (“a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints”), from Latin legenda (“things which ought to be read”), from lego (“I read”).
Pronunciation
Noun
legend (countable and uncountable, plural legends)
- the life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend)
- As a child she had nothing to read but the legends of early Christian martyrs.
- An unrealistic story depicting past events.
- A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.
- Synonym: myth
- The legend of Troy was discovered to have a historical basis.
- A plausible story set in the historical past, but whose historicity is uncertain.
- the legend of Robin Hood
- A story in which a kernel of truth is embellished to an unlikely degree.
- A fabricated backstory for a spy, with associated documents and records.
- Synonym: cover story
- According to his legend, he once worked for the Red Cross, spreading humanitarian aid in Africa.
- 1992, Ronald Kessler, Inside the CIA, Pocket Books, published 1994, →ISBN, page 115:
- If the documents are needed to establish "a light legend," meaning a superficial cover story, no steps are taken to make sure that if someone calls the college or motor vehicle department, the name on the document will be registered.
- 2003, Rodney Carlisle, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spies and Espionage, Alpha Books, →ISBN, page 105:
- Sorge solidified his own position by returning to Germany and developing a new legend. He joined the Nazi Party […] .
- 2005, Curtis Peebles, Twilight Warriors, Naval Institute Press, →ISBN, page 25:
- Both the agent's legend and documents were intended to stand up against casual questions from Soviet citizens, such as during a job interview, or a routine police document check, such as were made at railway stations.
- A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.
- A person related to a legend or legends.
- A leading protagonist in a historical legend.
- Synonym: hero
- Achilles is a legend in Greek culture.
- A person of extraordinary fame or accomplishments.
- Michael Jordan stands as a legend in basketball.
- (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, colloquial, slang) A cool, nice or helpful person, especially one who is male.
- Synonym: brick
- I've lost my pen! —Here mate, borrow mine. —You legend.
- A leading protagonist in a historical legend.
- (cartography) A key to the symbols and color codes on a map, chart, etc.
- (numismatics, heraldry) An inscription, motto, or title, especially one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon a heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration.
- 1987, Gene Wolfe, chapter XLVIII, in The Urth of the New Sun, 1st US edition, New York: Tor Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 281:
- […] there were three small brass coins there, the gift of Ymar. Their legends, like their faces, had worn away; and they were dark with verdigris — in appearance precisely the ancient things they were.
- Synonym: inscription
- A musical composition set to a poetical story.
- (naval) The design and specification of a vessel.
- 1929, Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers, Inc, page 304:
- The legend displacement on the basis then in use was 48,000 tons, the corresponding standard displacement as defined by the Washington Treaty being 47,540 tons.
- 1976, Alan Raven, John Roberts, British Battleships of World War Two: The Development and Technical History of the Royal Navy's Battleships and Battlecruisers from 1911 to 1946, page 63:
- The legend and sketch designs were submitted to the Board on 27th March 1916 and, after examining a model and the drawings, the Sea Lords generally favoured proposal 'B'; the extra weight involved being acceptable.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events
|
any person of extraordinary accomplishment
|
key to the symbols and color codes on a map
|
Verb
legend (third-person singular simple present legends, present participle legending, simple past and past participle legended)
- (archaic, transitive) To tell or narrate; to recount.
- c. 1600, John Ayliffe, Satires:
- Nor ladie's wanton love , nor wand'ring knight,
Legend I out in rymes all richly dight
References
- Jespersen, Otto (1909) A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles (Sammlung germanischer Elementar- und Handbücher; 9), volumes I: Sounds and Spellings, London: George Allen & Unwin, published 1961, § 4.82, page 143.
Further reading
- “legend”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “legend”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
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