\Leg"ate\ (l[e^]g"[asl]t), n. [OE. legat, L. legatus, fr.
legare to send with a commission or charge, to depute, fr.
lex, legis, law: cf. F. l['e]gat, It. legato. See {Legal}.]
1. An ambassador or envoy.
2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with
   the authority of the Holy See.
Note: Legates are of three kinds: ({a}) Legates a latere, now
      always cardinals. They are called ordinary or
      extraordinary legates, the former governing provinces,
      and the latter class being sent to foreign countries on
      extraordinary occasions. ({b}) Legati missi, who
      correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments.
      ({c}) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their
      office, as the archbishops of Salzburg and Prague.
3. (Rom. Hist.)
   (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the
       governor of a province.
   (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a province.