legend

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/ See IPA manual

Freq #2987

Meanings

1

noun
An old, well-known story that may not be completely true.

The legend of King Arthur has been told for centuries.
2

noun
Old stories of this kind considered together.

According to legend, a dragon once lived in these hills.
3

noun
A very famous and admired person.

He is a legend in the world of jazz.
4

noun
A box that explains the symbols and colours on a map or chart.

According to the legend on the map, that building is a school.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an old, well-known story... myth

3 noun · a very famous and admired... hero

4 noun · a box that explains the... key guide

Word family

Forms legends

Derived forms legendiclegendistlegendizationlegendizelegendlesslegendmakerlegendrysublegend

Related forms legelegendary

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

urban legend
a widely circulated story often presented as true despite being false or unverified

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Legend entered Middle English through Old French legende and ultimately derives from medieval Latin legere “to read.” It first denoted the story of a saint’s life; the broader sense “traditional story regarded as historical” developed in the early 17th century, when the word also began to mean an inscription or motto.

Etymology

From Middle English legende, from Old French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda (“a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints”), from Latin legenda (“things which ought to be read”), from lego (“to read”).

*leǵ- Proto-Indo-European legende Middle English legenda Latin legendus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Literature & Storytelling

External links

# legend

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/
**Frequency rank:** 2987

## Meanings
1. An old, well-known story that may not be completely true.
2. Old stories of this kind considered together.
3. A very famous and admired person.
4. A box that explains the symbols and colours on a map or chart.

## Examples
- The legend of King Arthur has been told for centuries.
- According to legend, a dragon once lived in these hills.
- He is a legend in the world of jazz.
- According to the legend on the map, that building is a school.

## Derived Forms
- legendic
- legendist
- legendization
- legendize
- legendless
- legendmaker
- legendry
- sublegend

## Related Forms
- lege
- legendary

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *leǵ-
- Root: legende
- Root: legenda
- Root: legendus

## Etymology
From Middle English legende, from Old French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda (“a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints”), from Latin legenda (“things which ought to be read”), from lego (“to read”).

## AI Etymology
Legend comes from Middle English legende, from Old French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda (“a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints”), from Latin legenda (“things which ought to be read”), from lego (“to read”). The historical line also includes *leǵ- and legendus.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Literature & Storytelling

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