Legend (noun)

1. A traditional story or group of stories about a famous person or event, which has been passed down from earlier times and serves as a source of inspiration.
2. A widely-held but false belief or idea.
3. A written explanation of the symbols on a map or chart.

Origin:

Late middle english: from old french legende, from latin legenda "things to be read", from legere "read".

Examples:

1. The legend of King Arthur is a popular theme in literature and film.
2. The legend of the lost city of gold continues to capture the imagination of adventurers.
3. The legend of the vampire has been a source of fascination for centuries.
4. It's just a legend that the lake is cursed.
5. The legend at the bottom of the map explained the symbols used for different types of roads.