legion

[ lee-juhn ]

noun

1. a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers.
2. a military or semimilitary unit.
3. the Legion.
   1. American Legion.
   2. foreign legion ( def 2 ).
4. any large group of armed men.
5. any great number of persons or things; multitude.

   Synonyms: sea, host, mass, throng

adjective

1. very great in number:

   The holy man's faithful followers were legion.

legion

/ ˈliːdʒən /

noun

1. a military unit of the ancient Roman army made up of infantry with supporting cavalry, numbering some three to six thousand men
2. any large military force

   the French Foreign Legion

3. usually capital an association of ex-servicemen

   the British Legion

4. often plural any very large number, esp of people

adjective

1. usually postpositive very large or numerous

Word History and Origins

Origin of legion¹

1175–1225; Middle English legi ( o ) un (< Old French ) < Latin legiōn- (stem of legiō ) picked body of soldiers, equivalent to leg ( ere ) to gather, choose, read + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of legion¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin legio, from legere to choose

Example Sentences

“Conquest Music are proud to have had Paul Di’Anno in our artist family and ask his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Royal British Legion and PoppyScotland run two major campaigns to donate funds from the poppies sold to support current and former members of the armed forces and their families.

From BBC

In 1921, the Royal British Legion ordered a million poppies from Anna Guérin in France and commissioned a further 8 million to be manufactured in Britain.

From BBC

The Royal British Legion says there is no "correct" way to wear a poppy - just that you must "wear it with pride".

From BBC

"Wearing a poppy is a personal choice reflecting individual and personal memories," the legion says.

From BBC