league

plural leagues · alternative obsolete leag

1. countableuncountableA group or association of cooperating members.

   the League of Nations

   1 more example

   And let there be / 'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity.

   1668, John Denham, The Passion of Dido for Aeneas

2. countableuncountablehobbiesAn organization of sports teams which play against one another for a championship.

   He loved watching cricket leagues all around the world.

   1 more example

   My favorite sports organizations are the National Football League and the American League in baseball.

3. abbreviationellipsisinformaluncountableball gamesEllipsis of rugby league.

   Are you going to watch the league tonight?

4. countableuncountableA class or type of people or things that are evenly matched or on the same level.

   We're not even in the same league.

   1 more example

   Forget about dating him; he's out of your league.

5. countableuncountableA prefecture-level administrative unit in Inner Mongolia (Chinese: 盟).
6. countableuncountablegovernmentAn alliance or coalition.

present singular third person leagues · participle present leaguing · participle past leagued · past leagued · alternative obsolete leag

1. ambitransitiveTo form an association; to unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support.

   Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name best Befits thee with him leagu'd.

   1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   1 more example

   I believe that all the Bohemians and the great folks in Paris are so leagued together, that they are afraid of one another, and the people receive all the buffets of their disagreeings.

   1845, Bentley's Miscellany, volume 18, page 7

alternative obsolete leag

1. UKnot comparableball gamesPlaying in the The Football League or the Premier League, the top four divisions of English football

plural leagues · alternative obsolete leag

1. obsoletemeasurementA unit of itinerary distance varying with country, in Britain commonly about three statute miles (or five kilometres). Perhaps representing an hour's walking.

   Half a league, half a league, / Half a league onward, / All in the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred.

   1855, Alfred Tennyson, “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, in Maud, and Other Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, stanza 1, page 151

   4 more examples

   Thenne kynge Mark and sir Dynadan rode forth a four leges englysshe tyl that they came to a brydge where houed a knyght on horsbak armed and redy to Iuste. "Then King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode forth a four leagues English, till that they came to a bridge where hoved a knight on horseback, armed and ready to joust."

   1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter 10

   Seven leagues above the mouth of the river we meet with two other passes, as large as the middle one by which we entered.

   1751-1753, Antoine-Simon Le Page du Pratz, History of Louisiana (PG), p. 47

   To this time the Dutch had kept two garrisons in the North of Formosa, one of which was at Fort Kelang, taken from the Spaniards ; the other was at a place called Tamsui, about ten leagues to the westward of Kelang.

   1813, James Burney, A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, volume 3, London: Luke Hansard and Sons, page 257

   Above him, the sun gleamed gold and white. Before him, trackless wilderness extended for many leagues before lapping against the outbuildings of some village.

   2008, Christopher Paolini, “Rider and Ra'zac”, in Brisingr, page 70

   1. obsoletemeasurementThree nautical miles.
2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league.

plural Leagues

1. A surname.

1. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of League of Nations.

   The League was hampered by the U.S.'s refusal to join and its member states' unwillingness to impose sanctions on foreign countries.