legionary

[ lee-juh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈli dʒəˌnɛr i /

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adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to a legion.

constituting a legion or legions.

noun, plural le·gion·ar·ies.

History/Historical. a soldier of a Roman legion.

a member of the British Legion.

legionnaire (def. 2).

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Origin of legionary

From the Latin word legiōnārius, dating back to 1570–80. See legion, -ary

Words nearby legionary

Leghorn, legibility, legible, legibly, legion, legionary, legionary ant, Legionella, legionnaire, legionnaires' disease, Legion of Honor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use legionary in a sentence

Interestingly enough, much like the later day Roman legionaries, the ordinary soldier of the Ancient Egyptian army was possibly motivated by the allure of wealth and social progression.
The Ancient Egyptian Soldiers of the New Kingdom|Dattatreya Mandal|July 6, 2022|Realm of History
For two days he had faced death, fighting like a legionary or a knight-errant, and in short playing the hero.
Overland|John William De Forest
In that abject figure you look in vain for the dash of Thracian blood, or seek the descendant of the Roman legionary.
The British Expedition to the Crimea|William Howard Russell
In 391, the people arrogated the right of appointing a part of the legionary tribunes, previously chosen by the consuls.
History of Julius Caesar Vol. 1 of 2|Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.

My staff struck hard and square on the helmet of a legionary, who, falling backward, dragged down with him the soldier behind.
The Brass Bell|Eugne Sue
Winslows legionary brigade was organized in 1799, just as the war scare subsided.
The Old First Massachusetts Coast Artillery in War and Peace|Frederick Morse Cutler

British Dictionary definitions for legionary

legionary

/ (ˈliːdʒənərɪ) /

adjective

of or relating to a legion

noun plural -aries

a soldier belonging to a legion

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