noun (pl) -cies 1. a gift by will, esp of money or personal property 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.
