legend

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend).

   As a child she had nothing to read but the legends of early Christian martyrs.

2. 2
   noun

   An unrealistic story depicting past events.

   The legend of Troy was discovered to have a historical basis.

3. 3
   noun

   Such stories considered collectively; unverified traditional tales.

   According to ancient legend, a Greek girl, partaking of saffron for an entire week, could not resist a lover.

4. 4
   noun

   A person related to a legend or legends.

   Achilles is a legend in Greek culture.

5. 5
   noun

   A key to the symbols and color codes on a map, chart, etc.

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

6. 6
   noun

   An inscription, motto, or title, especially one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon a heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration.

   Further clues are provided by milk-floats bearing the legend 'Lord Rayleigh's Dairies: A Family Business', and a number of signs indicating the whereabouts of various departments of Lord Rayleigh's Farms.

7. 7
   noun

   The design and specification of a vessel.

   The legend displacement on the basis then in use was 48,000 tons, the corresponding standard displacement as defined by the Washington Treaty being 47,540 tons.

8. 8
   verb

   To tell or narrate; to recount.

   Nor ladie's wanton love , nor wand'ring knight, Legend I out in rymes all richly dight

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”).