legatus Latin · revision 7566
16 Oct 2026, 14:06 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Ennius|origins=la lēx}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ɫeːˈɡaː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [leˈɡaː.tus]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''lēgātus''' ''m'' (genitive lēgātī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is the perfect passive participle of [[lēgō]] “to send as a deputy, commission”, used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of an envoy.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant an ambassador, envoy, delegate, as in Ennius and Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) From Cato it meant an assistant to a general or governor, a staff officer, lieutenant.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire, as in Tacitus, it meant the emperor's deputy governing an imperial province, and ''lēgātus legiōnis'' the commander of a legion.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a legate, ambassador, envoy.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a ''missus dominicus'', a margrave, an imperial commissioner and a papal legate.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|legate]] came in the mid-12th century, of the Pope's representative, and Medieval Latin ''lēgātia'' gave [[en|legacy]] in the late 14th century, first “a body of envoys”.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of an envoy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a general's lieutenant.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of an imperial governor and of a legion's commander.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-12th century – English ''legate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An [[m|en|ambassador]], envoy, delegate.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A general's or governor's lieutenant, a [[m|en|legate]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # An imperial governor.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''lēgātus legiōnis'', the commander of a legion.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A papal legate; a [[m|en|margrave]].^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[prolegatus]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[lēgātiō]]
+ * [[lēgātōrius]]
+ * [[lēgō]]
+ * [[en|legate]]
+ * [[en|legacy]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ The neuter ''lēgātum'' of the same verb means a bequest.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}