| 释义 |
legation|lɪˈgeɪʃən|
Also 5–6 legacion, -yon.
[ad. L. lēgātiōn-em, n. of action f. lēgāre: see legate n.1 Cf. F. legation, Sp. legacion, Pg. legação, It. legazione.]
1. The action of sending a deputy or representative, esp. a (papal) legate; the fact of his being so sent. Also, † to send in legation.
1460J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 260 To whech Parlement cam the duke of Gloucetir fro Yrlond expressing the Kyngis costis in Yrlond; and his legacion was so acceptabil, that the clergy graunted him a dyme, and the lay fe a fiftene. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. x. 1 To the Priests and Levites sent in legation from the Sanhedrim, he professed that himself was not the Christ. 1738Warburton (title) The Divine Legation of Moses. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 214 The object of Moses was to support his divine legation. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 108 The legation of a cardinal was..bound up in the popular mind with heavy fees.
2. The object for which an ambassador or legate is sent, his mission or commission.
1470–85Malory Arthur v. viii, [They] wente toward Rome and shewed theyr legacyon & message to the potestate and Senate. 1490Caxton Eneydos xxii. 77 Anne her [Dido's] suster went incontynent towarde eneas, to make unto him her feble legacion. 1494Fabyan Chron. vi. clix. 148 The sayde Lewys..gaue answers concernynge theyr legacions and messagys. 1530Palsgr. 238/1 Legation, a message, legation. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 144 Alfred..could not give any assent to their legation. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. ix. ii. (1864) V. 208 Innocent had chosen a German by birth, perhaps from his knowledge of the language, for this important Legation.
3. concr. The body of deputies sent on a mission; a diplomatic minister and his suite. Now chiefly (exc. in secretary of legation) used when the minister has not the titular rank of ‘ambassador’.
1603North's Plutarch (1612) 1161 (Cæsar Augustus) Cornelius the Centiner chief of this legation or ambassade. 1619Visct. Doncaster Let. in Eng. & Germ. (Camden) 148 To give him thankes for honoring this legation thus. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) IV. 420 A secretary of legation..supplying their place. a1859Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 74 The report which the English legations made of what they had seen and suffered in Russia.
b. The official residence of a diplomatic minister.
1832–3Reg. Deb. Congress U.S. 22nd Congress 2 Sess. App. 90/2 The proceedings..are not recorded in the legation. Ibid., The instructions are not in the legation [in London]. 1863Fortune Yedo & Peking iv. 72 His Excellency..gave me quarters in the Legation. 1886Miss Gordon Cumming Wand. China II. 257 Really good robes..are..offered for sale at all the Legations and other European dwellings. 1901Allen Siege Peking Legations v. 113 Next morning we heard that the Belgian Legation had been burnt.
c. attrib.
1886Miss Gordon Cumming Wand. China II. 337 The recently restored Legation buildings. 1900Martin Siege in Peking v. 84 The marines..were occupying commanding points on the legation walls, or making sorties from the legation gates. 1901Allen Siege Peking Legations vi. 211 Answer was returned that the Legation guard were simply acting on the defensive.
4. The dignity and office of a legate (see legate n.1 1, 3); a legateship.
1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 93 By vertue of his Legation it belonged vnto him to dispose of all things taken in that sacred war. a1639Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. ii. (1677) 58 He had accepted a Legation from the Pope. 1701W. Wotton Hist. Rome 270 He was appointed to go as Legate to the Proconsul of Afric. That Legation being performed, Marcus [etc.]. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. vii. iv. (1864) IV. 149 The Archbishop had..received from him the legation to France. 1864W. Forsyth Cicero (1867) 438 He wrote..to Anthony to request that he might have a legation given him.
5. Formerly, one of the provinces of the Papal States, governed by a legate.
1841W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. III. 30 Deputies..assembled in the end of 1796, and erected the two papal legations with the Modenese duchy into a commonwealth. 1848W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. I. 583 Cardinal Bernetti notified..his holiness's determination to send his troops into the legations.
†6. A gift by will, a legacy. Obs. rare—1.
1586J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 301 He..is bounde to beare the name,..by cause this is a condicionall legation or gift.
Hence leˈgation v. intr., to go on a legation. leˈgationary a., of or pertaining to a legation, qualified or ready to go on a legation.
1864Carlyle Fredk. Gt. IV. 460 Now Legationing in foreign parts. Ibid. 506 Plenty of legationary Sieurs. 1865Ibid. V. 623 The Marischal's legationary function. |