LEGEND (through the

See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French from the med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. legenda, things to be read, from legere, to read)  , in its primary meaning the history or life-story of a saint, and so applied to portions of Scripture and selections from the lives of the saints as read at divine service . The statute of 3 and 4 Edward VI. dealing with the abolition of certain books and images (1549), cap. ro, sect . 1, says that " all bookes . . . called processionalles, manuelles, legends . . . shall be . . . abolished." The " Golden Legend," or Aurea Legenda, was the name given to a book containing lives of the saints and descriptions of festivals, written by Jacobus de Voragine, archbishop of Genoa, in the 13th century . From the original application of the word to stories of the saints containing wonders and miracles, the word came to be applied to a story handed down without any foundation in history, but popularly believed to be true . " Legend " is also used of a writing, inscription, or motto on coins or medals, and in connexion with coats of arms, shields, monuments, &c .