legend (English)

Where does "legend" come from?

The English word legend traces back to the Middle English 'legende'[1][2], which was borrowed from Old French 'legende'[1][3]. This Old French term derives from Medieval Latin 'legenda', meaning 'a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints'[1][3]. The Medieval Latin form originates in Classical Latin 'legenda', meaning 'things which ought to be read', which is formed from the verb 'lego', meaning 'I read'[1] or 'pick out, select'[4]. Ultimately, the ancestry extends further back to the Proto-Indo-European root '*leǵ-'.

Full etymology tree

• legend (English), 'The life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend).'
  • borrowed legende (Middle English), 'A hagiography (biography of a saint)'
    • borrowed legende (Old French), 'legend (story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events; in particular an account the life of a saint)'
      • borrowed legenda (Latin), 'legend'
        • derived lego (Latin), 'to choose, select'

Ancestors

• *leǵ- (Proto-Indo-European)
• legende (Middle English)
• legende (Old French)
• legenda (Latin)
• legendus (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

• black legend (English)
• black legend (English)
• legendic (English)
• legend in one's own lifetime (English)
• legend in one's own lunchtime (English)
• legend in one's own mind (English)
• legend in one's own time (English)
• legendist (English)
• legendization (English)
• legendize (English)
• legendless (English)
• legendmaker (English)

Sources

1. legend (English) - Wiktionary
2. legende (Middle English) - Wiktionary
3. legende (Old French) - Wiktionary
4. legendus (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated September 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris