legitime

Forms

lēgitimē (comparative lēgitimius, superlative lēgitimissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful, legal”) + -ē.^[2][1][3] The adjective lēgitimus is from lēx (“law”),^[4] which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *lēg-, perhaps a “collection” of rules.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero is the first author:^[3] in the Pro Caecina he speaks of a man who is called a procurator in due legal form.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant in the way the law prescribes, in due form, in Cicero and Livy,^[2][5] and in the way the law allows, lawfully: the elder Seneca has a case where the question is not whether a woman was dismissed lawfully but whether ungratefully.^[2][5] From this came the sense properly or duly: Pliny the Elder uses it of something properly boiled, Tacitus of studying as one should,^[2][6][5] and Lactantius of doing something by the rules of an art.^[6]

Medieval documents used it for proceedings in correct legal form and for what was lawfully done;^[7] Alcuin writes that no soldier is crowned unless he fights lawfully.^[7] The DMLBS has the spellings legittime and ligitime.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a procurator appointed in legal form.^[2][3]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of doing something as the law prescribes.^[5][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of something properly prepared.^[2][3]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of studying properly.^[6][5][3]
• c. 250–317 AD – Lactantius uses it of following the rules of an art.^[6][3]
• c. 800 – Alcuin uses it of fighting lawfully.^[7]

Meanings

Adverb

1. As the law prescribes, in due legal form.^[2][5][7]
2. As the law allows, lawfully, legitimately.^[2][8][7]
3. Properly, duly; according to the rules of an art.^[2][6]

Related words

• lēgitimus
• lēx

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b c d e f 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
8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press