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legation

[li-gey-shuh n]
See more synonyms for legation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a diplomatic minister and staff in a foreign mission.
  2. the official headquarters of a diplomatic minister.
  3. the office or position of a legate; mission.
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Origin of legation

1425–75; late Middle English legacion < Latin lēgātiōn- (stem of lēgātiō) embassy. See legate, -ion
Related formsle·ga·tion·ar·y [li-gey-shuh-ner-ee] /lɪˈgeɪ ʃəˌnɛr i/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

embassydelegationagencyofficeauthoritycommissiongatheringcontingentorganizationconsulateministryfunctionworkcertificateconsignmentemploymentpermitmissionerranddiploma

Examples from the Web for legation

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • They had started as soon as Nelly's letter reached the Legation.

  • He was the doctor of our Legation and, of course, of the Consulate, too.

    The Shadow-Line

    Joseph Conrad

  • The Legation trembles at it—the Commessario says it is 'Peri-colosissimo!'

  • Yes, he is attached to the Legation, and sometimes here, sometimes at Naples.

    Tony Butler

    Charles James Lever

  • "I have nothing that is not addressed to a legation," said the other, trying to pass on.

    Tony Butler

    Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for legation

legation

noun
  1. a diplomatic mission headed by a minister
  2. the official residence and office of a diplomatic minister
  3. the act of sending forth a diplomatic envoy
  4. the mission or business of a diplomatic envoy
  5. the rank or office of a legate
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Derived Formslegationary, adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Latin lēgātiō, from lēgātus 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

Word Origin and History for legation

n.

mid-15c., from Old French legation and directly from Latin legationem (nominative legatio) "the office of an ambassador," noun of action from past participle stem of legare (see legate).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper