Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Legate
Leg′ate
(lĕg′ā̍t)
, Noun.
[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 Legal
.] 1.
An ambassador or envoy.
2.
An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See.
☞ 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. 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Legate
LEG'ATE
,Noun.
1.
An embassador; but especially,2.
The pope's embassador to a foreign prince or state; a cardinal or bishop sent as the pope's representative or commissioner to a sovereign prince. Legates are of three kinds; legates a latere, or counselors and assistants of his holiness, legates de latere, who are not cardinals, and legates by office.