legionary, a. and n.
(ˈliːdʒənərɪ)
[ad. L. legiōnārius, f. legiōn-em legion n.: see -ary.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to a legion.
| 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. I. 37/2 Ostorius..had no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids. 1581 Savile Tacitus Hist. Annot. (1591) 52 In former times..the Legionary Cohorts were equall, of fiue hundreth a piece. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. x. 249 Of the foure principle or Legionary standards, that is of Judah, Ruben, Ephraim, and Dan. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 112 Altars and monumental inscriptions, which instruct us as to the legionary stations of the Romans in Britain. 1838 Arnold Hist. Rome (1846) I. xiii. 223 The whole multitude of legionary soldiers. 1893 Archæologia LIII. 550 The bronze eagle, probably rightly supposed by Mr. Joyce to have been a legionary one. |
b. Of an inscription, mark, etc.: Designating a particular Roman legion.
legionary ring (Rom. Antiq.): a finger-ring bearing a number, formerly thought to have been worn by Roman soldiers, the number being supposed to be that of the legion. This view is now abandoned, as the numbers go up to 100, while the highest legionary number was 28.
| 1851 D. Wilson Preh. Ann. (1863) II. iii. ii. 38 Its legionary inscriptions indicate the several portions—erected by the different legions and cohorts. Ibid. 67 The legionary tablets of the Scottish wall are its most interesting relics. 1863 Q. Rev. CXIV. 382 The legionary mark of the tile. 1869 Fortnum in Archæol. Jrnl. XXVI. 146 Bronze ‘Legionary ring’..on which is engraved the so-called legionary number. |
2. Constituting or consisting of a legion or legions.
| 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. ii. Wks. 1851 V. 55 The Silures..besett the Prefect of his Camp, left there with Legionarie Bands to appoint Garrisons. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. (1869) I. i. 25 The whole body of legionary infantry amounted to six thousand one hundred men. 1827 De Quincey Murder Wks. 1862 IV. 52 The Roman legionary force. 1871 Farrar Witn. Hist. iii. 100 Without one earthly weapon she faced the legionary masses. |
| fig. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. iii. 12 Too many..betwixt jest and earnest, betray the cause of truth, and incensibly make up, the legionarie body of errour. |
B. n. A soldier of a legion, ancient or modern; a legionary soldier. Also, a member of the Legion of Honour.
| 1598 Dallington Meth. Trav. L b, As touching the [French] Infantry, Francis the first was the first that instituted the Legionaries..8 Legions, and every Legion to containe sixe thousand. 1608 E. Grimstone Hist. France (1611) 675 Twelue thousand Legionaries, Picards, Normands and Champanois. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxx. III. 173 If any of the legionaries were permitted to return from the Italian expedition. 1827 Scott Napoleon xxvi. Wks. 1870 XI. 276 Three hundred and fifty legionaries [of the Legion of Honour]. 1832–4 De Quincey Cæsars Wks. 1859 X. 154 The cowering legionary, with whom to hear was to obey. 1892 Pall Mall G. 26 Oct. 4/3 Day was just dawning when the Marine Infantry and the Legionaries advanced. |