society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > governors by country > [noun] > ancient Roman > legate (3)
A man of consular rank; esp. under the Roman republic, an ex-consul, and, under the empire, a legate sent as governor of a province.
Roman History. The deputy of a general or governor of a province; (under the empire) the provincial governor himself. Also in extended use.