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.
双语例句
1. The number of women who become pregnant after adopting children is legion.
领养小孩后怀孕的妇女比比皆是。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The British Legion raises funds to help ex-service personnel and their dependants.
英国退伍军人协会筹集款项帮助退役人员和他们的家属。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Ellie's problems are legion.
埃莉的问题多如牛毛。
来自柯林斯例句
4. the French Foreign Legion
法国外籍军团
来自《权威词典》
5. Each legion contained between 3000 and 6000 soldiers.