An unrealistic story depicting past events.
"My grandmother told me a legend about a dragon guarding the village well, but I know it was just an old tale she made up to scare children at night."
A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.
"The village elders gathered to tell the legend about how a giant turned their local river into stone during a drought centuries ago."
In plain English: A legend is a famous story about someone who is considered to be very special or almost magical.
"The local library is a legend in our community for its vast collection of rare books."
Usage: Use "legend" to describe a traditional story from the past that blends fact with fiction, often involving heroes or supernatural elements. Do not use it simply for any famous person unless referring specifically to their status as a mythic figure rather than just their fame.
To tell or narrate; to recount.
"The old storyteller spent hours at the campfire, weaving a legendary tale of the lost treasure that had captivated everyone present."
In plain English: To legend something means to make it famous and widely known through stories.
"The new startup legend that they built in just six months became an instant success story."
Usage: Do not confuse the verb "legend," which means to tell a story or recount events, with the noun "legend," which refers to a famous person or mythical tale. You should only use "legend" as a verb when you are actively narrating a specific narrative to an audience.
A male given name
"The priest announced that a baby boy named Legend had just been born to the Miller family."
The word "legend" comes from the Latin verb lego, meaning "to read." Originally, it referred to things that ought to be read, such as stories about the lives of saints.