Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LE-GAL'I-TY, n.

1. Lawfulness; conformity to law.
2. In theology, a reliance on works for salvation. Scott.

LE'GAL-IZE, v.i.

1. To make lawful; to render conformable to law; to authorize. What can legalize revenge?
2. To sanction; to give the authority of law to that which is done without law or authority. Irregular proceedings may be legalized by a subsequent act of the legislature.

LE-GAL-I'ZED, pp.

Made lawful.

LE-GAL-I'Z-ING, ppr.

Making lawful.

LE'GAL-LY, adv.

Lawfully; according to law; in a manner permitted by law.

LEG'A-TA-RY, n. [Fr. legataire; L. legatarius, from lego, to bequeath.]

A legatee; one to whom a legacy is bequeathed. [But legatee is generally used.]

LEG'ATE, n. [Fr. legat; L. legalus, from lego, to send. See Lackey.]

1. An embassador; but especially,
2. The pope's embassador to a foreign prince or state; a cardinal or bishop sent as the pope's representative or commissioner to a sovereign prince. Legates are of three kinds; legates a latere, or counselors and assistants of his holiness, legates de latere, who are not cardinals, and legates by office. Encyc.

LEG-A-TEE', n. [L. lego, to send.]

One to whom a legacy is bequeathed. Swift.

LEG'ATE-SHIP, n.

The office of a legate.

LEG'A-TINE, a.

1. Pertaining to a legate; as, legatine power. Shak.
2. Made by or proceeding from a legate; as, a legatine constitution.

LE-GA'TION, n. [L. legatio, from lego, to send.]

An embassy; a deputation; properly a sending, but generally, the person or persons sent as envoys or embassadors to a foreign court. Bacon. Legato, in music, directs the notes to be performed in a close, smooth, gliding manner.

LE-GA'TOR, n. [L.]

A testator; one who bequeaths alegacy. [Little used.] Dryden.

LEGE, v.t.

To allege; to lighten. [Not in use.] Chaucer.

LE'GEND, n. [It. leggenda; L. legenda, from lego, to read; originally, in the Romish church, a book of service or lessons to be read in worship.]

1. A chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins and at the refectories of religious houses. Hence,
2. An idle or ridiculous story told respecting saints. Encyc.
3. Any memorial or relation. Johnson.
4. An incredible, unauthentic narrative. Blackmore.
5. An inscription, particularly on medals and on coins. Addison.

LE'GEND, v.t.

To tell or narrate, as a legend. Hall.

LEG'END-A-RY, a.

Consisting of legends; strange; fabulous.

LEG'END-A-RY, n.

A book of legends; a relater of legends. Sheldon.

LEG'ER, n. [D. leggen, to lie, Sax. lecgan.]

Any thing that lies in a place; that which rests or remains; sometimes used as a noun, but more frequently as an adjective, as, a leger ambassador, that is, resident; but the word is now obsolete, except in particular phrases. A leger-line, in music, a line added to the staff of five lines, when more lines than five are wanted, for designating notes ascending or descending. A leger-book, or leger, a book that lies in the counting-house, the book into which merchants carry a summary of the accounts of the journal; usually and properly written ledger.

LEG'ER-DE-MAIN, n. [Fr. Leger, It. leggiero, light, slight, und Fr. de main, of hand. See Light.]

Slight of hand; a deceptive performance which depends on dexterity of hand; a trick performed with such art and adroitness, that the manner or art eludes observation. The word is sometimes used adjectively; as, a legerdemain trick.

LE-GER'I-TY, n. [Fr. legerele.]

Lightness; nimbleness [Not in use.] Shak.

LEG'GED, a. [from leg.]

Having legs; used in composition; as, a two-legged animal.

LEG'GIN, n. [from leg.]

A cover for the leg; a garment that incloses the leg. Mackenzie.

LEG-I-BIL'I-TY, n.

Legibleness; the quality or state of being legible.

LEG'I-BLE, a. [L. legibilis, from lego, to read.]

1. That may be read; consisting of letters or figures that may be distinguished by the eye; as, a fair, legible manuscript.
2. That may be discovered or understood by apparent mark or indications. The thoughts of men are often legible in their countenances.

LEG'I-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality or state of being legible.