ˈlējən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English legiun, legioun, from Old French legiun, legion, from Latin legion-, legio, from legere to levy, gather, read + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the principal unit of the Roman army comprising at first 3000 but later 5000 to 6000 foot soldiers with a complement of cavalry
withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain
Caesar's legions
— compare cohort
2. : a large military force ; especially : army 1a
the French Foreign Legion
the Arab Legion
3. : a very large number (as of persons or things) : host , multitude
won him … a legion of devoted followers — Irving Kolodin
the growing legion of nature lovers — A.F.Gustafson
the tales which have made him a legendary character are legion — Laura Gilpin
4. : a now uncommon taxonomic category of varying rank sometimes corresponding to a superfamily and sometimes to a class
5. : a national association of ex-servicemen
the American Legion has championed a universal draft plan — C.W.Ferguson
delegates from the various branches of the British Legion — Whitaker's Almanack