legion

[ lee-juhn ]

/ ˈli dʒən /

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noun

a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers.

a military or semimilitary unit.

the Legion.

any large group of armed men.

any great number of persons or things; multitude.

adjective

very great in number: The holy man's faithful followers were legion.

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Origin of legion

1175–1225; Middle English legi(o)un (< Old French) < Latin legiōn- (stem of legiō) picked body of soldiers, equivalent to leg(ere) to gather, choose, read + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR legion

5 throng, mass, host, sea.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR legion ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby legion

legharness, leghemoglobin, leghorn, legibility, legible, legion, legion of honor, legion of honour, legion of merit, legionary, legionella

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for legion

Oprah, when she came, found a legion of her fans on its doorstep.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We will see some surprising groups, maybe a legion of them, face the Six.
Gail Simone’s Bisexual Catman and the ‘Secret Six’|Rich Goldstein|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First, in his opening remarks yesterday, the pontiff towed a much more conservative line than his legion of new fans might expect.
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl reportedly tried to join the Legion before enlisting in the U.S. Army.
1,000 Americans Are Serving in the Israeli Army and They Aren’t Alone|Chris Allbritton|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Modesty, of course, forbids me from the citing the legion of instances where I have been correct.
Les Gelb Puts Russia in Its Place—and Critics in Theirs|Leslie H. Gelb|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had numerous honorary distinctions and medals, and was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
The Annual Register 1914|Anonymous
He had been military tribune of the second legion in Macedonia.
Plutarch's Lives, Volume I (of 4)|Plutarch
The second legion was accordingly sent, and the Extraordinaries were ordered to retire.
History of Rome, Vol III|Titus Livius
We are many, and sorry am I to say that some among us are like unto them that were called 'Legion.'
The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish|James Fenimore Cooper
It's pretty tough work here in the Legion; well, you'll see for yourself.
In the Foreign Legion|Erwin Rosen

British Dictionary definitions for legion

legion

/ (ˈliːdʒən) /

noun

a military unit of the ancient Roman army made up of infantry with supporting cavalry, numbering some three to six thousand men

any large military forcethe French Foreign Legion

(usually capital) an association of ex-servicementhe British Legion

(often plural) any very large number, esp of people

adjective

(usually postpositive) very large or numerous

Word Origin for legion

C13: from Old French, from Latin legio, from legere to choose

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

legion

noun

adjective

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Origin of legion

SYNONYMS FOR legion

Words nearby legion

Words related to legion

Example sentences from the Web for legion

British Dictionary definitions for legion

noun

adjective

Word Origin for legion