league1
n.
- a collection of people, countries, or groups that combine for mutual protection or cooperation.
- a group of sports clubs which play each other over a period for a championship.
- a class or category of quality or excellence:
the two men were not in the same league.
v.
(leagues, leaguing, leagued)
join in a league or alliance.
Phrase
- in league
conspiring with another or others.
Etymology
ME: via Fr. from Ital. lega, from legare ‘to bind’, from L. ligare.
league2
n.
a former measure of distance by land, usually about three miles.
Etymology
ME: from late L. leuga, leuca, late Gk leugē, or from Provençal lega (mod. Fr. lieue).