legate








noun

  1. an ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.
  2. Roman History.
    1. an assistant to a general or to a consul or magistrate, in the government of any army or a province; a commander of a legion.
    2. a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.
  3. an envoy or emissary.

noun

  1. a messenger, envoy, or delegate
  2. RC Church an emissary to a foreign state representing the Pope

n.mid-12c., “authorized representative of the Pope,” from Old French legat and directly from Latin legatus “ambassador, envoy,” originally “provided with a commission,” past participle of legare “send as a deputy, send with a commission, bequeath,” from lex (genitive legis) “contract, law” (see legal). General sense of “ambassador, delegate, messenger” is from late 14c.

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