a covenant or compact made between persons, parties, states, etc., for the promotion or maintenance of common interests or for mutual assistance or service.
the aggregation of persons, parties, states, etc., associated in such a covenant or compact; confederacy.
an association of individuals having a common goal.
a group of athletic teams organized to promote mutual interests and to compete chiefly among themselves: a bowling league.
group; class; category: As a pianist he just simply isn't in your league.
verb (used with or without object),leagued,lea·guing.
to unite in a league; combine.
Idioms
in league, working together, often secretly or for a harmful purpose; united.
Origin of league
1
1425–75; earlier leage < Italianlega, noun derivative of legare < Latinligāre to bind; replacing late Middle Englishligg < Middle Frenchligue < Italianliga, variant of lega
a unit of distance, varying at different periods and in different countries, in English-speaking countries usually estimated roughly at 3 miles (4.8 kilometers).
a square league, as a unit of land measure.
Origin of league
2
1350–1400;Middle Englishlege, leuge < Late Latinleuga a Gaulish unit of distance equal to 1.5 Roman miles, apparently < Gaulish; replacing Old Englishlēowe < Late Latin, as above
"alliance," mid-15c., ligg, from Middle French ligue "confederacy, league" (15c.), from Italian lega, from legare "to tie, to bind," from Latin ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Originally among nations, subsequently extended to political associations (1846) and sports associations (1879). League of Nations first attested 1917 (created 1919).
n.2
distance of about three miles, late 14c., ultimately from Late Latin leuga (cf. French lieue, Spanish legua, Italian lega), said by Roman writers to be from Gaulish. A vague measure (perhaps originally an hour's hike) never in official use in England, where it is recorded more often in poetic than in practical writing.
v.
"to form a league," 1610s, from league (n.1). Related: Leagued; leaguing.
