noun
- an ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.
- Roman History.
- 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.
- a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.
- an envoy or emissary.
noun
- a messenger, envoy, or delegate
- 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.