legatum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɫeːˈɡaː.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [leˈɡaː.tum]^[1]

Forms

lēgātum n (genitive lēgātī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of lēgātus, perfect participle of lēgō “to send with a commission; to bequeath”, used as a noun.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Gaffiot cites his letters to Atticus.^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

It was a legacy, a bequest, as in Cicero, and Suetonius has lēgāta dare “to make bequests”.^[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was a bequest, legacy.^[5] British Medieval Latin lists keeping back a legacy among sins.^[6] Etymonline derives English legacy from Medieval Latin lēgātia, a mission, with the sense “property left by will” from the mid-15th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[3][4]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius has lēgāta dare.^[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A legacy, bequest.^[2]

Word family

• lēgātārius

Related words

• lēgō
• lēgātus

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com