Legend

Legend is an English vocabulary word, a noun used to indicate a “narrative” describing a situation or event of some great proportions. The English got the word from the French (légende) which is ultimately derived from the Medieval Latin “legenda” meaning “(things) to be read” from the Latin verb “legere” meaning “to read, select, gather”. The word was used originally in reference to church readings about various saints, specific selections which were made for that day’s mass celebration. A legend has an extended definition of that which is mythical, exaggerated or non-historic. Such “legends” of various saints celebrated in medieval times included miraculous stories describing events which doubtfully occurred (e.g., a beheaded saint carries his own head for six miles before perishing, a dead saint’s body remains intact despite being dead for centuries, etc.). These so-called “legends” (particularly regarding Catholic saints) which were largely perpetuated in the Middle Ages became vital to the Christian belief systems during uncertain and precarious times. It was the Protestants who began using the term “legend” when describing the unrealistic events surrounding early saints in order to contrast them with accurately historical narratives concerning martyrs venerated by the Protestants who had separated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. In the modern sense, a Legend is still generally considered to be a “tall tale” or a “popular myth” (with no historic proof). “Legendary” is also used to describe a person admired for possessing some great talent or skill, or for achieving some great triumph. As a masculine given name, Legend is an American invention used almost exclusively in the United States.