legend

English Online Dictionary. What means legend‎? What does legend mean?

English

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 (“I read”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈliːd͡ʒ.ənd/

Noun

legend (countable and uncountable, plural legends)

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

3. An unrealistic story depicting past events.
   1. A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.

      Synonym: myth

   2. A plausible story set in the historical past, but whose historicity is uncertain.

   3. A story in which a kernel of truth is embellished to an unlikely degree.

      Synonyms: myth, tall tale

   4. A fabricated backstory for a spy, with associated documents and records.

      Synonym: cover story
5. A person related to a legend or legends.
   1. A leading protagonist in a historical legend.

      Synonym: hero

   2. A person of extraordinary fame or accomplishments.
      1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, colloquial, slang) A cool, nice or helpful person, especially one who is male.

         Synonym: brick

7. (cartography) A key to the symbols and color codes on a map, chart, etc.

   Synonyms: guide, key

8. (numismatics, heraldry) 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.

   Synonym: inscription

9. A musical composition set to a poetical story.
10. (naval) The design and specification of a vessel.

Derived terms

Related terms

• lege
• legendary

Translations

Verb

legend (third-person singular simple present legends, present participle legending, simple past and past participle legended)

1. (archaic, transitive) To tell or narrate; to recount.

References

Further reading

• “legend”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “legend”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

Dutch

Pronunciation

Participle

legend

1. present participle of legen

Declension

Anagrams

• gelden, gleden, legden

German

Pronunciation

Participle

legend

1. present participle of legen

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛ.ɡɛnt/
• Rhymes: -ɛɡɛnt
• Syllabification: le‧gend

Noun

legend

1. genitive plural of legenda

Swedish

Etymology

From Medieval Latin legenda.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /le.ɡend/, [lə.ˈɡɛnd]

Noun

legend c

1. legend

Declension

Derived terms

• legendarisk
• legendomspunnen

References

• legend in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

Anagrams

• degeln