legitimate
1legitimate — 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… …
2Legitimate — 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… …
3Legitimate — 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… …
4legitimate — [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… …
5legitimate — ► 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… …
6legitimate — 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: * …
7legitimate — [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 …
8legitimate — 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… …
9legitimate — 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… …
10legitimate — 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 …
