legion of honor

1 definition found

legion of honor - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Legion \Le"gion\ (l[=e]"j[u^]n), n. [OE. legioun, OF. legion, F.
     l['e]gion, fr. L. legio, fr. legere to gather, collect. See
     Legend.]
     1. (Rom. Antiq.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry
        consisting of different numbers at different periods, --
        from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the
        cavalry being about one tenth.
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     2. A military force; an army; military bands.
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     3. A great number; a multitude.
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              Where one sin has entered, legions will force their
              way through the same breach.          --Rogers.
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     4. (Taxonomy) A group of orders inferior to a class.
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     Legion of honor, an order instituted by the French
        government in 1802, when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a
        reward for merit, both civil and military.
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