legate

[leg-it]

noun

1. an ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.

2. Roman History.

   1. an assistant to a general or to a consul or magistrate, in the government of any army or a province; a commander of a legion.

   2. a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.

3. an envoy or emissary.

legate

/ ˈlɛɡɪt, ˈlɛɡəˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a messenger, envoy, or delegate

2. RC Church an emissary to a foreign state representing the Pope

Other Word Forms

• legateship noun
• legatine adjective
• underlegate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legate¹

1125–75; Middle English legat < Latin lēgātus deputy (noun use of masculine past participle of lēgāre to depute), equivalent to lēgā ( re ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of legate¹

Old English, via Old French from Latin lēgātus deputy, from lēgāre to delegate; related to lēx law

Example Sentences

No kings, no emperor, some middlingly important nobles and one papal legate led the expedition.

From Salon

When Locri was destroyed by one of his legates, the Locrians were not avenged by him, nor was the arrogance of that legate corrected, all this arising from his easygoing nature.

From Literature

Except for his time as legate, and for an ongoing feud with a notorious scoundrel named Regulus, the younger Pliny did not lead an especially eventful life.

From New York Times

Following a complex series of long-distance negotiations involving Prince Frederick III and the pontiff, papal legate Cardinal Cajetan formally examined Luther at Augsburg.

From Washington Post

The papal legate could hardly step out on the streets without being accosted by angry, agitated citizens.

From Washington Post