Leg - Legitimist

Leg (lĕg), v. t. To use as a leg, with it as object: (a) To bow. [Obs.] (b) To run. [Low]
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Legacy (lĕgȧs�), n.; pl. Legacies (-sĭz). [L. (assumed) legatia, for legatum, from legare to appoint by last will, to bequeath as a legacy, to depute: cf. OF. legat legacy. See .] 1. A gift of property by will, esp. of money or personal property; a bequest. Also Fig.; as, a legacy of dishonor or disease.
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2. A business with which one is intrusted by another; a commission; -- obsolete, except in the phrases last legacy, dying legacy, and the like.
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My legacy and message wherefore I am sent into the world. Tyndale.
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He came and told his legacy. Chapman.
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Coloq. Legacy duty , a tax paid to government on legacies. Wharton. -- Coloq. Legacy hunter , one who flatters and courts any one for the sake of a legacy.
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Legal (lēg�l), a. [L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. légal. Cf. to be prostrate, , .] 1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid.
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2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses.
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3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. Bouvier. Burrill.
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Coloq. Legal cap . See under . -- Coloq. Legal tender . (a) The act of tendering in the performance of a contract or satisfaction of a claim that which the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the law prescribes or permits. (b) That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive. It differs in different countries.

Syn. -- Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. See .
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legalese n. A style of writing or speaking heavily emphasizing the abstruse technical vocabulary of the law, to the point where a speech or document may be incomprehensible to non-specialists.
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legalisation n. 1. the act of legalizing; same as .
Syn. -- legalization.
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Legalism (lēg�lĭz'm), n. Strictness, or the doctrine of strictness, in conforming to law.
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Legalist, n. One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works. See , 2 (a).
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Legality (l�gălĭt�), n. [Cf. LL. legalitas, F. légalité. Cf. .] 1. The state or quality of being legal; conformity to law.
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2. (Theol.) A conformity to, and resting upon, the letter of the law.
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Legalization (lēg�lĭzāshŭn), n. The act of making legal.
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Legalize (lēg�līz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legalized (-īzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Legalizing (-īzĭng).] [Cf. F. légaliser.] 1. To make legal.
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2. (Theol.) To interpret or apply in a legal spirit.
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Legally, adv. In a legal manner.
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Legantine (l�găntĭn), a. [Obs.] See .
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Legatary (lĕgȧt�r�), n. [L. legatarius, fr. legaturius enjoined by a last will: cf. F. légataire. See .] A legatee. [R.] Ayliffe.
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Legate (lĕg�t), n. [OE. legat, L. legatus, fr. legare to send with a commission or charge, to depute, fr. lex, legis, law: cf. F. légat, It. legato. See .] 1. An ambassador or envoy.
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2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See.
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☞ Legates are of three kinds: (a) Legates a latere, now always cardinals. They are called ordinary or extraordinary legates, the former governing provinces, and the latter class being sent to foreign countries on extraordinary occasions. (b) Legati missi, who correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments. (c) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their office, as the archbishops of Salzburg and Prague.
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3. (Rom. Hist.) (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the governor of a province. (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a province.
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Legatee (lĕgȧtē), n. [See .] (Law) One to whom a legacy is bequeathed.
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Legateship (lĕg�tshĭp), n. The office of a legate.
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Legatine (-ȧtīn), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a legate; as, legatine power. Holinshed.
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2. Made by, proceeding from, or under the sanction of, a legate; as, a legatine constitution. Ayliffe.
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Legation (l�gāshŭn), n. [L. legatio: cf. F. légation, It. legazione. See .] 1. The sending forth or commissioning one person to act for another. “The Divine legation of Moses.” Bp. Warburton.
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2. A legate, or envoy, and the persons associated with him in his mission; an embassy; or, in stricter usage, a diplomatic minister and his suite; a deputation.
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3. The place of business or official residence of a diplomatic minister at a foreign court or seat of government.
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4. A district under the jurisdiction of a legate.
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Legato (l�gät�), a. [It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L. ligare.] (Mus.) Connected; tied; -- a term used when successive tones are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It is often indicated by a tie, thus �, �, or �, �, written over or under the notes to be so performed; -- opposed to staccato.
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Legator (lĕgȧtôr), n. [L., fr. legare: cf. OF. legateur. See .] (Law) A testator; one who bequeaths a legacy. Dryden.
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Legatura (l�gȧt�rȧ), n. [It. See .] (Mus.) A tie or brace; a syncopation.
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Legature (lĕgȧt�r; 135), n. Legateship. [Obs.]
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Leg bridge. A type of bridge for small spans in which the floor girders are rigidly secured at their extremities to supporting steel legs, driven into the ground as piling, or resting on mudsills.
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Lege (lĕj), v. t. [Abbrev. fr. allege to assert.] To allege; to assert. [Obs.] Bp. Fisher.
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Legement (-m�nt), n. See .
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Legend (lĕjĕnd or lējĕnd; 277), n. [OE. legende, OF. legende, F. légende, LL. legenda, fr. L. legendus to be read, fr. legere to read, gather; akin to Gr. legein to gather, speak. Cf. , , , .]
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1. That which is appointed to be read; especially, a chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins, and in the refectories of religious houses.
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2. A story respecting saints; especially, one of a marvelous nature. Addison.
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3. Any wonderful story coming down from the past, but not verifiable by historical record; a myth; a fable.
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And in this legend all that glorious deed
Read, whilst you arm you. Fairfax.
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4. An inscription, motto, or title, esp. one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon an heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration.
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Coloq. Golden legend . See under .
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Legend, v. t. To tell or narrate, as a legend. Bp. Hall.
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Legendary (lĕjĕnd�r�), a. Of or pertaining to a legend or to legends; consisting of legends; like a legend; fabulous. “Legendary writers.” Bp. Lloyd.
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Legendary stories of nurses and old women. Bourne.
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Legendary, n. [Cf. OF. legendaire, LL. legendarius.] 1. A book of legends; a tale or narrative.
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Read the Countess of Pembroke's “Arcadia,” a gallant legendary full of pleasurable accidents. James I.
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2. One who relates legends. Bp. Lavington.
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Leger (lĕjẽr), n. [See .] 1. Anything that lies in a place; that which, or one who, remains in a place. [Obs.]
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2. A minister or ambassador resident at a court or seat of government. [Written also lieger, leiger.] [Obs.]
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Sir Edward Carne, the queen's leger at Rome. Fuller.
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3. A ledger.
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Leger, a. Lying or remaining in a place; hence, resident; as, leger ambassador.
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Leger, a. [F. léger, fr. LL. (assumed) leviarius, fr. L. levis light in weight. See .] Light; slender; slim; trivial. [Obs. except in special phrases.] Bacon.
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Coloq. Leger line (Mus.), a line added above or below the staff to extend its compass; -- called also added line.
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Legerdemain (lĕjẽrd�mān), n. [F. léger light, nimble + de of + main hand, L. manus. See 3d , and .] Sleight of hand; a trick of sleight of hand; hence, any artful deception or trick.
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He of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. Spenser.
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The tricks and legerdemain by which men impose upon their own souls. South.
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Legerdemainist, n. One who practices sleight of hand; a prestidigitator.
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Legerity (l�jĕrĭt�), n. [F. légèreté. See 3d .] Lightness; nimbleness. [Archaic] Shak.
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Legge (lĕg), v. t. [See , v. t. ] To lay. [Obs.]
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Legge, v. t. [Abbrev. fr. alegge.] To lighten; to allay. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
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Legged (lĕgd or lĕggĕd), a. [From .] Having (such or so many) legs; -- used in composition; as, a long-legged man; a two-legged animal.
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{ Leggiadro (l�dj�ädr�), Leggiero (l�dj��r�), } a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Light or graceful; in a light, delicate, and brisk style.
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{ Legging (lĕggĭng), Leggin (lĕggĭn), } n. [From .] A cover for the leg, like a long gaiter.
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Legging, a. & vb. n., from , v. t.
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Leggy (lĕgg�), a. 1. having tall spindly stems; -- of plants. [wns=1]
Syn. -- tall-growing.
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2. Having long legs. [wns=2] Thackeray.
Syn. -- long-legged, long-shanked.
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Leghorn (lĕghôrn), n. A straw plaiting used for bonnets and hats, made from the straw of a particular kind of wheat, grown for the purpose in Tuscany, Italy; -- so called from Leghorn, the place of exportation.
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Legibility (lĕjĭbĭlĭt�), n. The quality of being legible; legibleness. Sir. D. Brewster.
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Legible (lĕjĭb'l), a. [L. legibilis, fr. legere to read: cf. OF. legible. See .] 1. Capable of being read or deciphered; distinct to the eye; plain; -- used of writing or printing; as, a fair, legible manuscript.
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The stone with moss and lichens so overspread,
Nothing is legible but the name alone. Longfellow.
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2. Capable of being discovered or understood by apparent marks or indications; as, the thoughts of men are often legible in their countenances.
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Legibleness, n. The state or quality of being legible.
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Legibly, adv. In a legible manner.
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Legific (l�jĭfĭk), a. [L. lex, legis, law + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See .] Of or pertaining to making laws.
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Practically, in many cases, authority or legific competence has begun in bare power. J. Grote.
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Legion (lējŭn), n. [OE. legioun, OF. legion, F. légion, fr. L. legio, fr. legere to gather, collect. See .] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.
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2. A military force; an army; military bands.
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3. A great number; a multitude.
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Where one sin has entered, legions will force their way through the same breach. Rogers.
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4. (Taxonomy) A group of orders inferior to a class.
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Coloq. Legion of honor , an order instituted by the French government in 1802, when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a reward for merit, both civil and military.
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Legionary (-�r�), a. [L. legionarius: cf. F. légionnaire.] Belonging to a legion; consisting of a legion or legions, or of an indefinitely great number; as, legionary soldiers; a legionary force. “The legionary body of error.” Sir T. Browne.
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Legionary (lējŭn�r�), n.; pl. Legionaries (-rĭz). A member of a legion. Milton.
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Legioned (lējŭnd), a. Formed into a legion or legions; legionary. Shelley.
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Legionry (lējŭnr�), n. A body of legions; legions, collectively. [R.] Pollok.
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Legislate (lĕjĭslāt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Legislated (-lātĕd); p. pr. & vb. n. Legislating (-lātĭng).] [See .] To make or enact a law or laws.
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Solon, in legislating for the Athenians, had an idea of a more perfect constitution than he gave them. Bp. Watson (1805).
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legislating n. the act of making or enacting laws; legislation{1}.
Syn. -- legislation, lawmaking.
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Legislation (-lāshŭn), n. [Cf. F. législation, L. legis latio. See .] The act of legislating; preparation and enactment of laws; the laws enacted.
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Pythagoras joined legislation to his philosophy. Lyttelton.
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Legislative (lĕjĭsl�tĭv), a. [Cf. F. législatif.]
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1. Making, or having the power to make, a law or laws; lawmaking; -- distinguished from executive; as, a legislative act; a legislative body.
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The supreme legislative power of England was lodged in the king and great council, or what was afterwards called the Parliament. Hume.
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2. Of or pertaining to the making of laws; suitable to legislation; as, the transaction of legislative business; the legislative style.
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Legislatively, adv. In a legislative manner.
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Legislator (lĕjĭslātẽr), n. [L. legis lator, prop., a proposer of a law; lex, legis, law + lator a proposer, bearer, fr. latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear: cf. F. législateur. See , and .] A lawgiver; one who makes laws for a state or community; a member of a legislative body.
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The legislators in ancient and heroical times. Bacon.
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Many of the legislators themselves had taken an oath of abjuration of his Majesty's person and family. E. Phillips.
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Legislatorial (-lȧtōrĭ�l), a. Of or pertaining to a legislator or legislature.
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Legislatorship (lĕjĭslātẽrshĭp), n. The office of a legislator. Halifax.
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{ Legislatress (-trĕs), Legislatrix (-trĭks), } n. A woman who makes laws. Shaftesbury.
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Legislature (lĕjĭslāt�r; 135), n. [Cf. F. législature.] The body of persons in a state or kingdom invested with power to make and repeal laws; a legislative body.
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Without the concurrent consent of all three parts of the legislature, no law is, or can be, made. Sir M. Hale.
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☞ The legislature of Great Britain consists of the Lords and Commons, with the king or queen, whose sanction is necessary to every bill before it becomes a law. The legislatures of most of the United States consist of two houses or branches; but the sanction or consent of the governor is required to give their acts the force of law, or a concurrence of two thirds of the two houses after he has refused his sanction and assigned his objections.
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The legislatures of some of the more important states having constitutional government are as follows, the general name (or a translation of it) of the legislative body collectively being given under the heading legislature, or parliament:

StateLegislature, or parliamentUpper HouseNameNumber of members -- how chosen or composed -- term of officeLower HouseNameNumber of members -- suffrage -- term of office
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ArgentinaNational CongressSenate30 -- 2 from each provincew and 2 from capital -- 9 yearsHouse of Deputies120  (1 to 33,000) -- Manhood -- 4 years
AustriaReichsrath
BelgiumThe Chambers
BrazilNational Congress
ChileNational Congress
DenmarkRigsdag
FranceNational Assembly
German EmpireImperial legislature
Great BritainParliamentHouse of LordsAbout 600House of CommonsAbout 670 -- 7 years, or until dissolution
Greece
HungaryOrzág-gyülés
ItalyParliament
JapanImperial Diet
MexicoCongress
NetherlandsStates-General
#NorwayStorthing
PortugalCortes Geraes (general Assembly)
PrussiaLandtagHerrenhausNo limit -- very various classes -- For different termsAbgeordnetenhaus433 -- Indirect election, general suffrage§ -- 5 years, or until dissolution
SpainCortes
SwedenDiet
SwitzerlandBundesversammlung
United StatesCongressSenate92(1908) -- 6 yearsHouse of Representatives391 (1908) -- 2 years.

---------------------------------------------------------------- In the self-governing colonies of Great Britain the legislative body usually consists of two chambers, the names of the legislature and the chambers varying. Thus in Australia the Federal Parliament is composed of the Senate and the House of Commons, in New Zealand the General Assembly is composed of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, etc.
#Members of the Storthing are chosen for three years by direct election by manhood suffrage, forty-one being elected from the towns and eighty-two from the rural districts. The Storthing on assembling divides into the Lagthing including one fourth and the Odelsthing including three fourths of the total membership of the Storthing. All new laws are laid first before the Odelsthing. If the two houses do not agree they vote in joint session, a majority of two thirds of those voting being necessary to a decision.
§ While theoretically general, the suffrage is so classified as often practically to disfranchise those who are not property holders.
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Legist (lējĭst), n. [F. légiste, LL. legista, fr. L. lex, legis, law. See .] One skilled in the laws; a writer on law. Milman. J. Morley.
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Legitim (l�jĭĭm), n. [See , a.] (Scots Law) The portion of movable estate to which the children are entitled upon the death of the father.
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Legitimacy (-ĭmȧs�), n. [See , a.] The state, or quality, of being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock.
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The doctrine of Divine Right, which has now come back to us, like a thief from transportation, under the alias of Legitimacy. Macaulay.
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Legitimate (-m�t), a. [LL. legitimatus, p. p. of legitimare to legitimate, fr. L. legitimus legitimate. See .] 1. Accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate rights; the legitimate succession to the throne; a legitimate proceeding of an officer; a legitimate heir.
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2. Lawfully begotten; born in wedlock.
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3. Authorized; real; genuine; not false, counterfet, or spurious; as,$legitimate poems of Chaucer; legitimate inscriptions.
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4. Conforming to known principles, or accepted rules; as, legitimate reasoning; a legitimate standard, or method; a legitimate combination of colors.
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Tillotson still keeps his place as a legitimate English classic. Macaulay.
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5. Following by logical sequence; reasonable; as, a legitimate result; a legitimate inference.
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Legitimate (-māt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimated (-mātĕd); p. pr. & vb. n. Legitimating (-mātĭng).] To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; esp., to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means; as, to legitimate a bastard child.
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To enact a statute of that which he dares not seem to approve, even to legitimate vice. Milton.
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Legitimately (-m�tl�), adv. In a legitimate manner; lawfully; genuinely.
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Legitimateness, n. The state or quality of being legitimate; lawfulness; genuineness.
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Legitimation (-māshŭn), n. [Cf. F. légitimation.]
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1. The act of making legitimate.
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The coining or legitimation of money. East.
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2. Lawful birth. [R.] Shak.
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Legitimatist (l�jĭtĭmȧtĭst), n. See .
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Legitimatize (-tīz), v. t. To legitimate.
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Legitimism (-mĭz'm), n. The principles or plans of legitimists.
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Legitimist (-mĭst), n. [Cf. F. légitimiste.] 1. One who supports legitimate authority; esp., one who believes in hereditary monarchy, as a divine right.
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2. Specifically, a supporter of the claims of the elder branch of the Bourbon dynasty to the crown of France.
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