legionary
legionary Lexical Profile
legionary Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, consisting of, or characteristic of a military legion, especially in ancient Rome.
"Archaeologists uncovered remnants of a Roman legionary fortress along the northern frontier."
Very great in number; comprising a vast multitude.
"The archive houses a legionary collection of historical manuscripts spanning six centuries."
• noun
A soldier who is a member of a legion, especially a heavy infantryman of the ancient Roman army.
"Each Roman legionary was responsible for carrying his own equipment and rations during long marches."
Word Nuance & Usage
Historians generally prefer 'legionary' when referring to a citizen soldier of an ancient Roman legion, whereas 'legionnaire' is more commonly used for a member of the modern French Foreign Legion or veterans' organizations.
• Rhymes for legionary
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin 'legionarius' (pertaining to a legion), derived from 'legio' (a Roman military division of several thousand men), from 'legere' meaning to choose, gather, or levy troops.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.