legitimate — le·git·i·mate 1 /lə ji tə mət/ adj [Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare to give legal status to, from Latin legitimus legally sanctioned, from leg , lex law] 1: conceived or born of parents lawfully married to each other or… … Law dictionary
Legitimate — Le*git i*mate ( m[asl]t), a. [LL. legitimatus, p. p. of legitimare to legitimate, fr. L. legitimus legitimate. See {Legal}.] 1. Accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Legitimate — Le*git i*mate ( m[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Legitimated} ( m[=a] t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Legitimating} ( m[=a] t[i^]ng).] To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; esp., to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
legitimate — [lə jit′əmət; ] for v. [, lə jit′əmāt΄] adj. [ML legitimatus, pp. of legitimare, to make lawful < L legitimus, lawful < lex: see LEGAL] 1. conceived or born of parents legally married to each other 2. a) sanctioned by law or custom; lawful… … English World dictionary
legitimate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) conforming to the law or to rules. 2) able to be defended with logic or justification: a legitimate excuse. 3) (of a child) born of parents lawfully married to each other. 4) (of a sovereign) having a title based on strict… … English terms dictionary
legitimate — legal, *lawful, licit Analogous words: justified or justifiable, warranted or warrantable (see corresponding verbs at JUSTIFY): *valid, sound, cogent: recognized, acknowledged (see ACKNOWLEDGE): customary, *usual: * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
legitimate — [adj] authentic, valid, legal accepted, accredited, acknowledged, admissible, appropriate, authorized, canonical, certain, cogent, consistent, correct, customary, fair, genuine, innocent, just, justifiable, lawful, licit, logical, natural, normal … New thesaurus
legitimate — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English legitimat, from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare to legitimate, from Latin legitimus legitimate, from leg , lex law Date: 15th century 1. a. lawfully begotten; specifically born in… … New Collegiate Dictionary
legitimate — legal, lawful, legitimate, licit 1. All four words share the basic meaning ‘conforming to the law’. Something is legal when it is authorized by the law of the land, legitimate when it conforms to custom or common justice, and lawful (a more old… … Modern English usage
legitimate — legitimately, adv. legitimateness, n. legitimation, n. adj., n. /li jit euh mit/; v. /li jit euh mayt /, adj., v., legitimated, legitimating, n. adj. 1. according to law; lawful: the property s legitimate owner … Universalium
legitimate — Used in the context of general equities. Real interest in trading as compared to a profile stance. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary See: natural. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * ▪ I. legitimate le‧git‧i‧mate 1 [lɪˈdʒɪtmt] adjective 1. LAW… … Financial and business terms
