[leg.ate] n [ME, fr. MF & L; MF legat, fr. L legatus deputy, emissary, fr. pp. of legare to depute, send as emissary, bequeath, fr. leg-, lex] (12c): a usu. official emissary -- leg.ate.ship n
[2]le.gate vt le.gat.ed ; le.gat.ing [legatus, pp. of legare to bequeath] (15c): bequeath 1 -- le.ga.tor n