Etymology and origin of the Latin word legalitas
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1011 More words from the 11th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin lēgālis
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
lēgālitās f (genitive lēgālitātis); third declension[1]
Etymology
It is a Medieval Latin word,[2][3] formed from Latin lēgālis (“of the law, legal”) + -tās.[1][3]
Earliest recorded meaning
Köbler dates its earliest record, in a royal diploma, to 1011.[1]
Semantic evolution
Medieval Latin used it of the whole set of rights attached to a property or an office, and of a person's standing to appear in court.[4] English law texts such as the Quadripartitus and the laws of Cnut speak of losing one's lēgālitās, the state of being law-worthy, so that one may no longer bear witness.[2] It also meant lawful conduct and legality,[2][5] honesty or loyalty,[4][6][2] liege homage, and the standard of a coin.[4][6]
In Neo-Latin it meant legal status and conformity to the law.[7] It is the source of Italian legalità[3] and of English legality, recorded from the mid-15th century for law-abiding conduct.[8]
Timeline
- 1011 – Köbler's earliest date for it, in a royal diploma.[1]
- 1127 – Bernard of Clairvaux writes to Count Theobald of Champagne that he trusts in his justice and loyalty.[6]
- 1199 – An English royal court record uses it of legality.[2]
- 1231 – A charter of Archbishop Galterus of Sens uses it of the standard of the coinage.[6]
- 1248 – A Hungarian charter praises someone's constant loyalty.[5]
- mid-15th century – English borrows it as legality.[8]
Meanings
Noun
- (Medieval Latin) Legality, lawful conduct.[2][5]
- (Medieval Latin) The rights attached to a property or an office.[4]
- (Medieval Latin, law) Standing to appear in court; the state of being law-worthy.[4][2]
- (Medieval Latin) Honesty, loyalty.[4][6][2]
- (Medieval Latin) liege homage.[4]
- (Medieval Latin) The standard or alloy of a coin.[4][6]
- (New Latin) Legal status; conformity to the law.[7]
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c d e f g h Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
- ^ a b c d e f g h Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
- ^ a b c Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
- ^ a b c d e f du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
- ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry
“Legalitas.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/legalitas. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.
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