a. and sb. [ad. L. legiōnārius, f. legiōn-em LEGION sb.: see -ARY.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to a legion.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 37/2. Ostorius … had no legionarie souldiers, but certeine bands of aids.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., Annot. (1591), 52. In former times … the Legionary Cohorts were equall, of fiue hundreth a piece.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. x. 249. Of the foure principle or Legionary standards, that is of Judah, Ruben, Ephraim, and Dan.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 112. Altars and monumental inscriptions, which instruct us as to the legionary stations of the Romans in Britain.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome (1846), I. xiii. 223. The whole multitude of legionary soldiers.
1893. Archæologia, LIII, 550. The bronze eagle, probably rightly supposed by Mr. Joyce to have been a legionary one.
b. Of an inscription, mark, etc.: Designating a particular Roman legion.
Legionary ring (Rom. Antiq.): a finger-ring bearing a number, formerly thought to have been worn by Roman soldiers, the number being supposed to be that of the legion. This view is now abandoned, as the numbers go up to 100, while the highest legionary number was 28.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), II. III. ii. 38. Its legionary inscriptions indicate the several portions—erected by the different legions and cohorts. Ibid., 67. The legionary tablets of the Scottish wall are its most interesting relics.
1863. Q. Rev., CXIV. 382. The legionary mark of the tile.
1869. Fortnum, in Archæol. Jrnl., XXVI. 146. Bronze ‘Legionary ring’ … on which is engraved the so-called legionary number.
2. Constituting or consisting of a legion or legions.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., II. Wks. 1851, V. 55. The Silures … besett the Prefect of his Camp, left there with Legionarie Bands to appoint Garrisons.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1869), I. i. 25. The whole body of legionary infantry amounted to six thousand one hundred men.
1827. De Quincey, Murder, Wks. 1862, IV. 52. The Roman legionary force.
1871. Farrar, Witn. Hist., iii. 100. Without one earthly weapon she faced the legionary masses.
fig. 1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. iii. 12. Too many … betwixt jest and earnest, betray the cause of truth, and incensibly make up, the legionarie body of errour.
B. sb. A soldier of a legion, ancient or modern; a legionary soldier. Also, a member of the Legion of Honour.
1598. Dallington, Meth. Trav., L b. As touching, the [French] Infantry, Francis the first was the first that instituted the Legionaries … 8 Legions, and every Legion to containe sixe thousand.
1608. E. Grimstone, Hist. France (1611), 675. Twelue thousand Legionaries, Picards, Normands and Champanois.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. III. 173. If any of the legionaries were permitted to return from the Italian expedition.
1827. Scott, Napoleon, V. 65. Every cohort was to consist of seven grand officers, twenty commanders, thirty subaltern officers, and three hundred and fifty legionaries [of the Legion of Honour].
1832–4. De Quincey, Cæsars, Wks. 1859, X. 154. The cowering legionary, with whom to hear was to obey.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 26 Oct., 4/3. Day was just dawning when the Marine Infantry and the Legionaries advanced.
