in music, "smoothly, without intervals," 1811, from Italian legato, literally "bound," past participle of legare, from Latin ligare "tie" (from PIE root *leig- "to tie, bind"). Related: Legatissimo.
Entries linking to legato
*leig-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to tie, bind."
It forms all or part of: alloy; ally; colligate; deligate; furl; league (n.1) "alliance;" legato; liable; liaison; lien; lictor; ligand; ligament; ligate; ligation; ligature; oblige; rally (v.1) "bring together;" religion; rely.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin ligare "to bind;" Albanian lidh "I bind," and possibly Middle Low German lik "band," Middle High German geleich "joint, limb."