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legacy

[ leg-uh-see ]
/ ˈlɛg ə si /
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noun, plural leg·a·cies.
Law. a gift of property, especially personal property, such as money, by will; a bequest.
anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.
an applicant to or student at the alma mater of their parent or parents.
Obsolete. the office, function, or commission of a legate.
adjective
of or relating to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.
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Origin of legacy

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English legacie “office of a deputy or legate” from Medieval Latin lēgātia. See legate, -acy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use legacy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for legacy

legacy
/ (ˈlɛɡəsɪ) /

noun plural -cies
a gift by will, esp of money or personal property
something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor
(modifier) surviving computer systems, hardware, or softwarelegacy network; legacy application

Word Origin for legacy

C14 (meaning: office of a legate), C15 (meaning: bequest): from Medieval Latin lēgātia commission; see legate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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