legend

Where does the word "legend" come from? It comes from Latin legere, passing through Medieval Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Legend’s story begins in Latin: legere meant “to read, to choose.” The root of 'lecture', 'legible' and 'lesson'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as legenda. Things to be read, especially stories of saints' lives, from legere. From there it passed into Old French as legende by medieval. Carried into French for a traditional story, often of unverifiable truth. It reached English by 1300s as legend. Settled as the English word for a traditional story, or a famous person. Today, legend means a traditional story of uncertain truth, or a famous and influential person.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient legere "to read, to choose", the root of 'lecture', 'legible' and 'lesson'.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval legenda "things to be read", things to be read, especially stories of saints' lives, from legere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval legende "a traditional story of unverifiable truth", carried into French for a traditional story, often of unverifiable truth.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s legend "a traditional story, or a famous and influential person", settled as the English word for a traditional story, or a famous person.