rhizoverbBeta
DictionarylegateOfficial representative
noun

legate

LEG-ut/ˈleɡət/

An official representative, especially of the pope.

The legate presents the ruler's sealed message to the receiving court.

An official envoy presents a sealed message from a distant ruler to a receiving court while guards and ministers treat him as the sender's representative.
Etymology
legateLatinambassador, envoy

Latin legatus described an envoy as someone “provided with a commission.” A legate therefore represents another authority by an assigned mandate, as in the original English use for a pope’s authorized representative.

In context

ManorialSociety ofGreatBritain speaker1:54
Being a papal legate gave to the holder of the office in his locality virtually all the powers of a pope.
How Magna Carta happened 7: King Richard goes on Crusade, summer 1190
Global Georgetown speaker12:54
was sent by Pope Gregory the 13th … as Papal Legate … in order to mediate in the Livonian War.
The Jesuits and Global Impact-The Jesuits, Globalization, and Our Historical Juncture

More examples

  • The legate carried an official message.
  • A papal legate attended the ceremony.
  • The delegates received the legate respectfully.

Forms

legate · legates

Similar words

envoy
Envoy is a general official representative; legate is especially associated with papal representation.
nuncio
A nuncio is a papal diplomatic representative; legate can refer to a representative sent for a particular mission.