Adjacent Words

Legend definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LEG'END, n. [L. legenda, from lego, to read; originally, in the Romish church, a book of service or lessons to be read in worship.]
1. A chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins and at the refectories of religious houses. Hence,
2. An idle or ridiculous story told respecting saints.
3. Any memorial or relation.
4. An incredible, unauthentic narrative.
5. An inscription, particularly on medals and on coins.
LEG'END, v.t. To tell or narrate, as a legend.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events [syn: legend, fable]
2: brief description accompanying an illustration [syn: caption, legend]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English legende, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda, from Latin, feminine of legendus, gerundive of legere to gather, select, read; akin to Greek legein to gather, say, logos speech, word, reason Date: 14th century 1. a. a story coming down from the past; especially one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable b. a body of such stories <a place in the legend of the frontier> c. a popular myth of recent origin d. a person or thing that inspires legends e. the subject of a legend <its violence was legend even in its own time — William Broyles Jr.> 2. a. an inscription or title on an object (as a coin) b. caption 2b c. an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart

Britannica Concise

Traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place. Formerly the term referred to a tale about a saint. Legends resemble folktales in content; they may include supernatural beings, elements of mythology, or explanations of natural phenomena, but they are associated with a particular locality or person. They are handed down from the past and are popularly regarded as historical though they are not entirely verifiable.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated; a myth. b such stories collectively. c a popular but unfounded belief. d colloq. a subject of such beliefs (became a legend in his own lifetime). 2 a an inscription, esp. on a coin or medal. b Printing a caption. c wording on a map etc. explaining the symbols used. 3 hist. a the story of a saint's life. b a collection of lives of saints or similar stories. Derivatives: legendry n. Etymology: ME (in sense 3) f. OF legende f. med.L legenda what is to be read, neut. pl. gerundive of L legere read

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Legend Leg"end, v. t. To tell or narrate, as a legend. --Bp. Hall.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Legend Leg"end (l[e^]j"[e^]nd or l[=e]"j[e^]nd; 277), n. [OE. legende, OF. legende, F. l['e]gende, LL. legenda, fr. L. legendus to be read, fr. legere to read, gather; akin to Gr. le`gein to gather, speak. Cf. Collect, Dialogue, Lesson, Logic.] 1. That which is appointed to be read; especially, a chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins, and in the refectories of religious houses. 2. A story respecting saints; especially, one of a marvelous nature. --Addison. 3. Any wonderful story coming down from the past, but not verifiable by historical record; a myth; a fable. And in this legend all that glorious deed Read, whilst you arm you. --Fairfax. 4. An inscription, motto, or title, esp. one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon an heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration. Golden legend. See under Golden.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(legends) 1. A legend is a very old and popular story that may be true. ...the legends of ancient Greece... The play was based on Irish legend. N-VAR 2. If you refer to someone as a legend, you mean that they are very famous and admired by a lot of people. ...blues legends John Lee Hooker and B.B. King. N-COUNT [approval] 3. A legend is a story that people talk about, concerning people, places, or events that exist or are famous at the present time. The incident has since become a family legend... His frequent brushes with death are the stuff of legend among the press. N-VAR

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Fable, myth, fiction, doubtful narrative, fictitious story. 2. Motto (round a coin or a medal).

Moby Thesaurus

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