— legateship , n.
/leg"it/ , n.
1. an ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.
2. Rom. Hist.
a. an assistant to a general or to a consul or magistrate, in the government of any army or a province; a commander of a legion.
b. a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.
3. an envoy or emissary.
[ 1125-75; ME legat legatus deputy (n. use of masc. ptp. of legare to depute), equiv. to lega ( re ) + -tus ptp. suffix ]