legionary
UK /ˈliːdʒənəɹi/ · US /ˈlidʒəˌnɛɹi/ noun, adjective
Forms legionaries
- noun (military, Ancient Rome) A soldier belonging to a legion; a professional soldier of the ancient Roman army.
- noun A person who is neither a citizen nor colonial/imperial subject of the state whose military they join.
- noun A member of a legion, such as the American Legion, or of any organization containing the term legion in its title (e.g. the French Foreign Legion).
- adjective Relating to, or consisting of, a legion or legions.
- adjective Containing a great number.
- noun a member of the Legion of Christ, a Roman Catholic religious institute
Synonyms
Etymology
From legion + -ary. From Latin legiōnārius. Doublet of legionnaire.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Belonging to a legion; consisting of a legion or legions, or of an indefinitely great number; as, legionary soldiers; a legionary force. "The legionary body of error." Sir T. Browne.
- noun A member of a legion. Milton.
Etymology [L.legionarius: cf. F. légionnaire.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “legionary”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details