allegatus

Allegatus is a Latin term with two primary uses: as a noun and as a participial adjective. As a noun, allegatus (masculine; allegata feminine; allegatum neuter) refers to a person sent on a mission, i.e., an envoy, delegate, or ambassador. In Roman and Late Antique usage it describes someone tasked with representing an authority or delivering messages, though the more common term for a formal diplomatic envoy is legatus. The word appears in inscriptions and prose from the late Republic into the medieval and post-classical periods.

As an adjective, allegatus means “brought forward,” “presented,” or “alleged.” It is formed from the passive participle of the verb allegare, meaning to cite, bring forward as a ground or argument, or to allege. In Latin texts, allegatus is used to describe things cited or alleged as grounds, and, depending on context, it may refer to persons presented for a role or to propositions put forward for discussion.

Etymology and form are linked to the verb allegare, from which the participle allegatus derives. The term thus sits at the intersection of diplomacy and rhetoric in Latin. In modern scholarly usage, allegatus is encountered mainly in studies of Latin language, diplomacy, law, and ecclesiastical writing where precise sense as envoy or as stated/claimed is pertinent.

See also: legatus, envoy, ambassador, allegare.