---
title: legion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «legion» in the school dictionary: A legion was a large army unit in ancient Rome, of about 5,000 soldiers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legion/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / legion

# legion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** legion, fans, Roman legion, legions, Royal British Legion, mistakes · **What happens:** be, mean, call, have, build, wait · **To what, where:** large army unit, ancient Rome, large number, many, legion, modern armed groups · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«legion» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [legion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/legion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A legion was a large army unit in ancient Rome, of about 5,000 soldiers.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:m1:1
# text = A legion was a large army unit in ancient Rome, of about 5,000 soldiers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	5,000	5000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a legion | a large army unit and 5,000 soldiers |  | ancient Rome |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A legion is a very large number of people or things («a legion of fans»).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:m2:1
# text = A legion is a very large number of people or things («a legion of fans»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a legion | a large number |  |  |  | of people or things | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Legion» as an adjective means very many: «Her fans are legion.».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:m3:1
# text = «Legion» as an adjective means very many: «Her fans are legion.».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Legion	Legion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Legion as a adjective | many |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Legion's fans | legion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some modern armed groups are called a legion, such as the French Foreign Legion, or veterans' clubs like the Royal British Legion.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:m4:1
# text = Some modern armed groups are called a legion, such as the French Foreign Legion, or veterans' clubs like the Royal British Legion.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
2	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	armed	armed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	Foreign	Foreign	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	Legion	Legion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	veterans	veteran	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	'	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
20	clubs	club	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
23	Royal	Royal	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
24	British	British	PROPN	NNP	_	25	compound	_	_
25	Legion	Legion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | some modern armed groups |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Roman legion had thousands of soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x1:1
# text = A Roman legion had thousands of soldiers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | a Roman legion | thousands of soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thousand=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The legions built roads across Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x2:1
# text = The legions built roads across Britain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	legions	legion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the legions | roads |  | Britain |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset road=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Legions of fans waited outside the stadium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x3:1
# text = Legions of fans waited outside the stadium.
1	Legions	legion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stadium	stadium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | past | Legions of fans |  |  | the stadium |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme outside stadium=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Royal British Legion sells poppies in November.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x4:1
# text = The Royal British Legion sells poppies in November.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Royal	Royal	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	British	British	PROPN	NNP	_	4	compound	_	_
4	Legion	Legion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	poppies	poppy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	November	November	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | the Royal British Legion | poppies |  |  |  | in November | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poppy=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her mistakes were legion!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x5:1
# text = Her mistakes were legion!
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Her mistakes | legion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mistake** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each legion had its own eagle standard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x6:1
# text = Each legion had its own eagle standard.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	standard	standard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | each legion | legion's own eagle standard |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent standard=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Legions of ants marched into the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x7:1
# text = Legions of ants marched into the kitchen.
1	Legions	legion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	marched	march	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march** | participle |  | ants *not said here* |  |  |  | into the kitchen *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into kitchen=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Their number continued to increase more and more; and by the time Gerda had finished her prayers, a whole legion stood round her.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:legion:x8:1
# text = Their number continued to increase more and more; and by the time Gerda had finished her prayers, a whole legion stood round her.
1	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	continued	continue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	increase	increase	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
14	Gerda	Gerda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	finished	finish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
17	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	legion	legion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
24	round	round	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **continue** | participle | Their number |  |  |  |  |  | vn continue-55.3 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **increase** | to-infinitive | Their number *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **finish** | past · perfect · passive |  | Gerda |  |  | time |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **stand** | past | a whole legion |  |  |  |  | round Gerda | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **pray** |  | Gerda |  |  |  |  |  | nom prayer «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [legible](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legible/)
- next →: [legionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legionary/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)