legion English · revision 15391

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1205|origins=la legō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈliː.d͡ʒən/ ''(UK)''; /ˈli.d͡ʒən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|legiun]], [[bor|fro|legion]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|legiō|t=a body of soldiers, a levy]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|legō|t=to choose, gather, levy]] (see [[legend]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[ine-pro|*leǵ-|t=to collect, gather]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A Roman legion: probably before 1200, in Layamon's ''Brut'', in Barnhart, about 1200 in Etymonline, about 1205 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A Roman legion had about 3,000 to 6,000 men.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A vast host or multitude is from before 1300, often of angels or spirits,^(OED 1989) and especially from Mark 5:9, ''my name is Legion: for we are many'' (about 1378 in Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Modern military bodies are called legions from the 1590s, as the Foreign Legion,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the Legion of Honour, founded by Napoleon in 1802, is named in English from 1827.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The American Legion of ex-servicemen was founded in 1919.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adjective, numerous, as in ''their numbers are legion'', is from 1678.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1205 – a Roman legion.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – a multitude.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – a modern military body.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1678 – legion (adjective).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1919 – the American Legion.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A unit of the ancient Roman army of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry, with cavalry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A large military force: ''the French Foreign Legion''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A very large number; a multitude.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An association of former servicemen.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very numerous: ''their supporters are legion''.^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[legionella]]

+ * [[foreign legion]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[legionary]]

+ * [[legionnaire]]

+ * [[legend]]

+ * [[elect]]

+ * [[collect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}