c. 1200, from Old French legion "Roman legion" (3,000 to 6,000 men, under Marius usually with attached cavalry), from Latin legionem (nominative legio) "body of soldiers," from legere "to choose, gather," also "to read" (see lecture (n.)).
Generalized sense of "a large number" is due to translations of allusive phrase in Mark v:9. American Legion, U.S. association of ex-servicemen, founded in 1919. Legion of Honor is French légion d'honneur, an order of distinction founded by Napoleon in 1802. Foreign Legion is French légion étrangère "body of foreign volunteers in a modern army," originally Polish, Belgian, etc. units in French army; they traditionally served in colonies or distant expeditions.
雙語例句
1. The number of women who become pregnant after adopting children is legion.
領養(yǎng)小孩后懷孕的婦女比比皆是。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The British Legion raises funds to help ex-service personnel and their dependants.
英國退伍軍人協(xié)會籌集款項幫助退役人員和他們的家屬。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Ellie's problems are legion.
埃莉的問題多如牛毛。
來自柯林斯例句
4. the French Foreign Legion
法國外籍軍團
來自《權威詞典》
5. Each legion contained between 3000 and 6000 soldiers.