le ‧ gend /ˈledʒ ə nd/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: légende , from Medieval Latin legenda , from Latin legere 'to gather, choose, read' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] an old well-known story, often about brave people, adventures, or magical events ⇨ myth :
a book of ancient Greek legends
legend of
the legend of St George and the dragon
according to legend
According to legend, he escaped by leaping from the cliffs into the sea.
Local legend has it that (=says that) the island was the original Garden of Eden.
2 . [countable] someone who is famous and admired for being extremely good at doing something
tennis/footballing/music etc legend
We must put more money into the sport if we want to create the tennis legends of the future.
a marvellous player who was a legend in his own lifetime
⇨ living legend at ↑ living 1 (6)
3 . [countable] literary words that have been written somewhere, for example on a sign:
A sign above the door bore the legend ‘Patience is a Virtue’.
4 . [countable] technical the words that explain a picture or map ⇨ key
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ an old/ancient legend
You will have heard the old legend about how the rocks were formed.
▪ a local legend
According to a local legend, the tree was planted by a wizard.
▪ a popular legend (=one that many people believe)
A popular legend grew up about him.
▪ a Greek/Roman/Celtic etc legend
the figure of Hercules in Greek legend
▪ Arthurian legend(s) (=the legends about King Arthur of Britain)
The castle of Camelot plays an important role in Arthurian legend.
■ verbs
▪ become legend/pass into legend
The incident became legend.
▪ a legend grew (up) (=developed over time)
The legend of his bravery grew after he killed the dragon.
▪ (the) legend says
Legend says King Arthur’s sword was thrown into one of the pools here.
▪ the legend tells how
The legend tells how the King of Troy offended Poseidon, the sea god.
▪ the legend goes (=says)
Two people, so the legend goes, refused to flee.
▪ a legend is attached to something (=connected with it)
The cave has an unusual legend attached to it.
■ phrases
▪ legend has it that (=says that)
Legend has it that Rhodes was home to the sun god Helios.
▪ be the subject of legend ( also be the stuff of legend ) (=have stories told about them)
The island has long been the subject of legend.
▪ myths and legends
I read and reread the Greek myths and legends.