legendary

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. relating to or based on old stories called legends.

adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of a legend; existing in traditional stories rather than historical fact.

“King Arthur is a legendary figure who may not have actually existed.”

“The historian attempted to separate the legendary elements of the king's life from the few verifiable facts found in contemporary records.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

adj. so good or so great that it is hard to believe.

adj. remarkable enough to be famous; very impressive.

“The traffic in this city is legendary for being terrible.”

“The professor's legendary temper made students think twice before arriving late to his lectures.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Archaic

n. an old book containing stories about the lives of saints.

n. a collection of legends, specifically hagiographies or accounts of the lives of saints.

“The monk spent years copying the legendary by hand.”

“Scholars examined the medieval legendary to understand how the local cult of the saint had evolved over several centuries.”