Skip to main content
legatine

legatine

1 9.9
A person the pope sends to act for him
  • noun
  • Formal
translation icon : legatía
  • The bishop was granted legatine authority to oversee the council.

Examples

  • A legatine arrived from Rome to mediate the dispute between the two churches.

  • During the Middle Ages, a legatine often held significant power in local religious matters.

  • The legatine authority was established by the Pope.

  • A legatine representative visited the diocese last week.

  • The legatine authority was crucial in negotiating peace between the conflicting factions.

  • The church appointed a special legatine envoy to oversee the proceedings in Rome.

  • Her role as a legatine representative allowed her to act on behalf of the Pope in important matters.

Synonyms

legate
vslegatine
  • Formal
8 9.5

A person who represents a government in another country

is broader by also naming the holder's office and its authority
nuncio
vslegatine
  • Formal
2 9.9

A representative of the Pope who acts like an ambassador to another country

is broader, covering office, authority, or jurisdiction beyond ambassadorial status
papal nuncio
vslegatine
  • Formal
1 9.9

An official sent by the Pope who acts as his ambassador to a foreign government

is similar but focuses more on office and jurisdiction than liaison role
legation
vslegatine
  • Archaic
1 9.9

The office of a representative of the Pope or a small diplomatic mission

is similar but also implies authority and jurisdiction roles
legateship
vslegatine
  • Formal
9.9

The time when a person acts as an official representative for a church or government

is broader, covering that office plus its authority and jurisdiction

Surface Forms

legatine singular
legatines plural

Morphology

legatine = legate (transparent) = legate + ine

The noun use is derived from the adjective/relational form (legate + -ine) and denotes the person or office; the relation to 'legate' is direct.

Etymology

Legatine comes from the Latin legatus 'an envoy' or 'one sent', and is like the English word delegate, a person sent to speak or act for others. That's why a legatine can mean a person sent by the pope or the office and power that person holds.