legislator

[Lat., from lex (gen it. leg is ) = a law, and lat or = a proposer of a law, lit.=one who bears or carries, from latum, sup. of fero =to bear; Fr. législateur; Sp. leg is lad or; Ital. legislatore.] A lawgiver; one who enacts or makes laws for any state or kingdom; a member of a national supreme legislative a embly. †leg-is-la-tör-i-al, a. [Eng. legislator ; -ial.] Of or pertaining to a legislator or legislature. *leg-is-lat-or-ship, s . [Eng. legislator ; -ship .] The office or position of a legislator. *leg-is-lā-tre , s. [Eng. legislator ; fem. suff. -e . A female legislator; a woman who makes laws. "See what that country of the mind will produce, when by the wholesome laws of this legislatre it has obtained 2. Fig .: Any very great number; an indefinitely its liberty."-Shaftesbury: Morals , pt. iv., § 2. large number. II. Technically : 1. Roman Antiq .: A division of the Roman army, consisting of a number of men varying at different periods from 2.000 to 6,000. Originally the legion was divided into fifteen companies ( manipuli ) [MANIPLE], each of which contained sixty rank and file, two officers-called centurions-and one standard-bearer ( vexillar i us ). Afterward it was divided into ten cohorts, each cohort into three companies ( manipuli ), and each company into two centuries. "The legion, as established by Romulus, contained 3,000 foot-soldiers. From the expulsion of the Tarquins until the beginning of the second Punic war, the number varied from 4,000 to 4,200, although, on emergencies, the strength was raised to 5,000, and even 5,200. From the beginning of the second Punic war until the age of Marius (B. C. 100), the number varied from 4,200 to 5,200, seldom falling below 5,000, and, in some cases, rising as high as 6,000. From B. C. 100 until the downfall of the empire, the number varied from 5,000 to 6,200. From the acce ion of August us until the time of Hadrian, 6,000 seems to have been regarded as the regular complement." -Ramsay: Roman Antiquities. 2. Nat . Science : A term sometimes used for what s more generally called a sub-cla . (1) Legion of Honor : A French order of merit founded by Napoleon I., when first consul, as a reward for services or merit, civil or military. It consisted of various grades, as grand cro es, grand officers, commanders, officers, and legionaries. The constitution of the order has been often remodeled since it was established. (2) Thundering legion : [THUNDERING.]