英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

leg-work (n.)[leg-work 词源字典]: 1891, from leg (n.) + work (n.). Originally news reporter slang for an assignment that produced more walking than text.[leg-work etymology, leg-work origin, 英语词源]
legacy (n.): late 14c., "body of persons sent on a mission," from Old French legatie "legate's office," from Medieval Latin legatia, from Latin legatus "ambassador, envoy," noun use of past participle of legare "appoint by a last will, send as a legate" (see legate). Sense of "property left by will" appeared in Scottish mid-15c.
legal (adj.): mid-15c. "of or pertaining to the law," from Middle French légal or directly from Latin legalis "legal, pertaining to the law," from lex (genitive legis) "law," possibly related to legere "to gather," on notion of "a collection of rules" (see lecture (n.)).

Sense of "permitted by law" is from 1640s. Related: Legally. The Old French form was leial, loial (see leal, loyal). Legal tender is from 1740.
legalese (n.): "the language of legal documents," 1914, from legal + language name ending -ese.
legalistic (adj.): 1843, from legalist (1640s); see legal + -istic.
legality (n.): mid-15c., from Middle French légalité, from Medieval Latin legalitatem (nominative legalitas), from Latin legalis "pertaining to the law" (see legal).
legalization (n.): 1805, noun of action from legalize.
legalize (v.): 1716, from legal + -ize. Related: Legalized; legalizing.
legate (n.): mid-12c., "authorized representative of the Pope," from Old French legat and directly from Latin legatus "ambassador, envoy," originally "provided with a commission," past participle of legare "send as a deputy, send with a commission, bequeath," from lex (genitive legis) "contract, law" (see legal). General sense of "ambassador, delegate, messenger" is from late 14c.
legation (n.): mid-15c., from Old French legation and directly from Latin legationem (nominative legatio) "the office of an ambassador," noun of action from past participle stem of legare (see legate).
legato: 1811, from Italian legato, literally "bound," past participle of legare, from Latin ligare (see ligament). Of music to be played smoothly, without intervals.
legem pone: "payment of money, cash down," 1570s, from first two words of the fifth division of Psalm cxix, which begins the psalms at Matins on the 25th of the month; consequently associated with March 25, a quarter day in the old financial calendar, when payments and debts came due.
legend (n.): early 14c., "narrative dealing with a happening or an event," from Old French legende (12c., Modern French légende) and directly from Medieval Latin legenda "legend, story," literally "(things) to be read," on certain days in church, etc., from Latin legendus, neuter plural gerundive of legere "to read, gather, select" (see lecture (n.)).

Used originally of saints' lives; extended sense of "nonhistorical or mythical story" first recorded late 14c. Meaning "writing or inscription" (especially on a coin or medal) is from 1610s; on a map, illustration, etc., from 1903.
legendary (adj.): mid-16c., from Medieval Latin legendarius, from legenda (see legend). Earlier it was a noun meaning "a collection of legends" (1510s).
legerdemain (n.): early 15c., "conjuring tricks," from Middle French léger de main "quick of hand," literally "light of hand," from léger "light" in weight (from Latin levis "light;" see lever) + main "hand" (from Latin manus; see manual).
legging (n.): "extra outer covering to protect the leg," 1763, from leg (n.). Related: Leggings.
leggy (adj.): 1787, from leg (n.) + -y (2).
Leghorn: breed of fowl, 1869, from Leghorn, city in Italy (modern Livorno, 16c.-17c. Legorno), from Latin Liburnus, from the native people name Liburni, which is of unknown signification.
legibility (n.): 1670s; see legible + -ity.
legible (adj.): late 14c., from Late Latin legibilis "that can be read," from Latin legere "to read" (see lecture (n.)). Related: Legibly.