legion

n. [ OE. legioun, OF. legion, F. légion, fr. L. legio, fr. legere to gather, collect. See Legend. ] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A military force; an army; military bands. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A great number; a multitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where one sin has entered, legions will force their way through the same breach. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Taxonomy) A group of orders inferior to a class. [ 1913 Webster ]

Legion of honor, an order instituted by the French government in 1802, when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a reward for merit, both civil and military. [ 1913 Webster ]