/leg"euh see/ , n. , pl. legacies .
1. Law. a gift of property, esp. personal property, as money, by will; a bequest.
2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.
3. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.
4. Obs. the office, function, or commission of a legate.
adj.
5. of or pertaining to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.
[ 1325-75; ME legacie office of a deputy or legate legatia. See LEGATE, -ACY ]
Syn. 1, 2. inheritance.