legitimate English · revision 6437

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1464|origins=la lex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /lɪˈdʒɪtəmət/, /ləˈdʒɪtəmət/ ''(UK)''; /ləˈdʒɪt̬əmət/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English legitimat, [[bor|la-med|lēgitimātus]], the past participle of [[m|la-med|lēgitimo|alt=lēgitimāre|t=to make lawful]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) partly through Middle French legitimer,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|lēgitimus|t=lawful, fixed by law]], from [[m|la|lex|t=law]] (genitive lēgis; see [[legal]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lawfully begotten, born of married parents: before 1464 in Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline, 1494 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Genuine or real, as opposed to spurious, is from the 1550s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Lawful, sanctioned by law or right, is from 1638.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Conforming to a recognized standard is from 1669,^(OED 1989) and of a sovereign's title, resting on strict hereditary right, from 1812.^(OED 1989) The ''legitimate theatre'', serious drama as opposed to music hall or film, is a later use.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD) The verb, to make lawful, is from the 1590s, 1531 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[legitimacy|alt=Legitimacy]] is from 1691.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1464 – born in wedlock.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1550s – genuine.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1638 – lawful.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1691 – legitimacy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1812 – of hereditary right.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Allowed by law or by the rules; [[lawful]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Reasonable and justifiable: ''a legitimate excuse''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Born of parents legally married to each other.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Ruling by hereditary right.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make legitimate; to [[legitimize]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[legitimately]]

+ * [[legitimateness]]

+ * [[legitimation]]

+ * [[legitimator]]

+ * [[legitimatize]]

+ * [[nonlegitimate]]

+ * [[delegitimate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[legitimacy]]

+ * [[legitimize]]

+ * [[illegitimate]]

+ * [[legal]]

+ * [[loyal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}