n. & v.
--n.
1. a tie or bandage, esp. in surgery for a bleeding artery etc.
2 Mus. a slur; a tie.
3 Printing two or more letters joined, e.g. {aelig}.
4 a bond; a thing that unites.
5 the act of tying or binding.
--v.tr. bind or connect with a ligature.
Etymology: ME f. LL ligatura f. L ligare ligat- tie, bind