legende

Legende is a noun used in several languages, most prominently Dutch, to denote two related but distinct concepts. In its literary sense, it refers to a traditional narrative about saints, heroes, or miraculous events. In a different sense, legende also means the caption or explanatory key found on maps, diagrams, or illustrations that explains symbols, colors, and lines.

Etymology traces legende to the Latin legenda, meaning “things to be read,” formed from legere, “to read.” Through Old French legende and other medieval intermediaries, the word entered various European languages with senses related to reading, storytelling, and later to the descriptive text accompanying images or maps.

In literature and folklore, legende denotes a narrative that blends historical memory with miraculous or exemplary elements. This sense often overlaps with hagiography, especially in medieval contexts, where legendaries collected the lives of saints and revered figures. The term is closely related to “legend” in English, though usage varies by language and region.

A parallel sense appears in cartography and information design. The legende (map legend) is the explanatory panel that defines symbols, scales, and color codes used on the map, enabling readers to interpret the depicted data accurately. This functional sense emphasizes clarity and guidance rather than storytelling.

Historically, legende appears in medieval compilations such as the Legenda aurea (The Golden Legend) by Jacobus de Voragine, a foundational text that gathered saints’ lives for liturgical use and instruction. Today, the word is still used in Dutch and other languages to distinguish between narrative tradition and practical explanatory text.