Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LEG, n. [Dan. læg; It. lacca.]

1. The limb of an animal, used in supporting the body and in walking and running; properly, that part of the limb from the knee to the foot, but in a more general sense, the whole limb, including the thigh, the leg and the foot.
2. The long or slender support of any thing; as, the leg of a table. To make a leg, to bow; a phrase introduced probably by the practice of drawing the right leg backward. [Little used.] Locke. Swift. To stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to trust to one's own strength or efforts without aid.

LEG'A-CY, n. [Sp. legado; Fr. legs; L. legatum, from lego, to send, to bequeath; Eth. ለከአ laka, Ar. ألَلَكَ alaka, to send. Class Lg, No 1.]

A bequest; a particular thing, or certain sum of money given by last will or testament. Good counsel is the best legacy a father can leave to his child. L'Estrange.

LEG'A-CY-HUNT-ER, n.

One who flatters and courts for legacies.

LE'GAL, a. [Fr.; from L. legalis, from lex, legis, law.]

1. According to law; in conformity with law; as, a legal standard or test; a legal procedure.
2. Lawful; permitted by law; as, a legal trade. Any thing is legal which the laws do not forbid.
3. According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. Scott. Milton.
4. Pertaining to law; created by law. The exception must be confined to legal crimes. Paley. So we use the phrase, criminal law.

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. legatus, 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, adv. [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 a legacy. [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, and 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. legereté.]

Lightness; nimbleness. [Not in use.] Shak.