I. leg·ate ˈlegə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English legat, from Old French & Latin; Old French legat, from Latin legatus ambassador, deputy, provincial governor, from legatus, past participle of legare to send with a commission or charge, bequeath, from leg-, lex law — more at legal
1.
a. : an ecclesiastic representing the Roman Catholic pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See
among the legates sent by the pope — M.W.Baldwin
the papal legates … joined with the council and the representatives of the three other patriarchs — K.S.Latourette
— compare apostolic delegate , nuncio
b. : the governor of a province in the Papal States
2. : an emissary usually having official status (as an ambassador, delegate, or envoy)
3.
a. : a deputy of a Roman general or of the governor of a Roman province
b. : a provincial governor of the Roman Empire
II. le·gate lə̇ˈgāt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin legatus, past participle
: bequeath 1
Synonyms: see will