Other forms: legends
A legend is an old famous story half believed to be true. The legend of King Arthur, according to legend, an urban legend.
It sits between history and myth: a legend usually has a real place or person somewhere behind it, which a myth need not. The word is also used of a person that famous — a living legend, a legend of the game — and informally in Britain as high praise for somebody who has done you a favour. And a legend is the key on a map or chart explaining what the symbols mean, which is the oldest sense of all.
1nounlegendAn old famous story half believed to be true.
“According to legend the stones cannot be counted twice the same.”
2nounfamousA very famous person.
“He was a legend at the club long before he retired.”
3nounkeyThe key explaining the symbols on a map or chart.
“Check the legend before you read anything into the colours.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
legend is a story, or a famous person.
Medieval Latin legenda meant things which ought to be read — the saints' lives read aloud on their feast days. From reading to storytelling to fame is a short walk, and the map key keeps the original sense: a legend is the part you read.
Proto-Indo-European
*leǵ-
Latin
legendus — things which ought to be read
Medieval Latin
legenda — a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints
Old French
legende
Middle English
legende
English, today
legend
Built from
From Middle English legende, from Old French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda (“a legend, story, especially the lives of the saints”), from Latin legendus (“things which ought to be read”), from lego (“to read”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA