■ noun
1》 a traditional story popularly regarded as historical but which is not authenticated.
2》 an extremely famous or notorious person: a screen ~.
3》 an inscription on a coin or medal.
↘explanatory wording on a map, diagram, etc.
4》 historical a written account of a saint's life.
■ adjective very well known: his speed and ferocity in attack were ~.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from med. L. ~a 'things to be read', from L. legere 'read'.