Main Entry: ¹leg·ate

Pronunciation: \ˈle-gət\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French legat, from Latin legatus deputy, emissary, from past participle of legare to depute, send as emissary, bequeath, from leg-, lex

Date: 12th century

: a usually official emissary

— leg·ate·ship \-ˌship\ noun