# legate

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɛɡɪt/ · frequency rank #51,816

## Definitions
1. A deputy representing the pope, specifically a papal ambassador sent on special ecclesiastical missions.
2. An ambassador or messenger.
3. The deputy of a provincial governor or general in ancient Rome.

## Etymology
Inherited from Old English legat(e), from Old French legat, from Latin lēgātus, substantivized from the perfect passive participle of lēgō (“to bequeath, send as envoy”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/legate