legate

[leg-it]

noun

1. an ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.

2. Roman History.

   1. 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.

   2. a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.

3. an envoy or emissary.

legate

/ ˈlɛɡɪt, ˈlɛɡəˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a messenger, envoy, or delegate

2. RC Church an emissary to a foreign state representing the Pope

Other Word Forms

• legateship noun
• legatine adjective
• underlegate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legate¹

1125–75; Middle English legat < Latin lēgātus deputy (noun use of masculine past participle of lēgāre to depute), equivalent to lēgā ( re ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of legate¹

Old English, via Old French from Latin lēgātus deputy, from lēgāre to delegate; related to lēx law

Example Sentences

No kings, no emperor, some middlingly important nobles and one papal legate led the expedition.

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Except for his time as legate, and for an ongoing feud with a notorious scoundrel named Regulus, the younger Pliny did not lead an especially eventful life.

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Following a complex series of long-distance negotiations involving Prince Frederick III and the pontiff, papal legate Cardinal Cajetan formally examined Luther at Augsburg.

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The papal legate could hardly step out on the streets without being accosted by angry, agitated citizens.

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That Francis forced Festing’s resignation without deigning to pick up Burke’s gauntlet was further vindication of the Pope, who will soon appoint his own legate to run the Order.

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