league
UK[liːɡ]US[liːɡ]
n
A group of sports clubs or players that compete against each other in a regular schedule
n
A group of people, countries, etc. that have joined together for a particular purpose
n
A unit for measuring distance, equal to about three miles or five kilometers, no longer in common use
Etymology
The word 'league' entered English in the late 15th century via Middle French ligue, meaning a binding alliance or treaty. The French term derived from the Italian lega, which itself came from the verb legare, meaning 'to bind'. This Italian verb has its roots in the Latin ligāre, 'to bind, tie'. The core semantic thread from the original Latin sense of physical binding evolved into the modern abstract meaning of a group bound together by a common agreement or purpose, whether for sports, politics, or measurement (a distance that could be covered in a fixed, 'bound' unit of time).
Analysis
The word 'league' is a simplex word borrowed from French. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive morphemes in modern English based on its current spelling.
Examples
The team was promoted to the premier league after a successful season.
Several nations formed a league to promote peace and economic cooperation.
In the old tales, the treasure was said to be buried a league from the ancient oak tree.