legitimus Latin · revision 6967

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Rhetorica ad Herennium|origins=la lēx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɫeːˈɡɪ.tɪ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [leˈd͡ʒiː.ti.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lēgitimus''' (feminine lēgitima, neuter lēgitimum, adverb lēgitimē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from the stem of [[lēx]] “law”, ⟨lēg-⟩, with the suffix ⟨-timus⟩ (also ⟨-tumus⟩), as in [[fīnitimus]] and [[maritimus]], from [[ine-pro|*-(t)m̥mos]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The spelling ⟨lēgitumus⟩ occurs in inscriptions.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'', of what concerns the law.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant of or concerning the law, and legally prescribed, statutory, as Cicero's day appointed by law for elections.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of contracts and marriages it meant valid in law, of children born in lawful wedlock, and of actions lawful.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it meant prescribed by custom, regular, proper, by the rules of art, as in Horace, and in Ovid genuine, real.^(OLD 2012) ''Summa lēgitima'' was a fee paid on entering a provincial senate.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant legal, legitimate.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin ''aetās lēgitima'' meant full age, and the word meant of age, and lawful, trustworthy, as a witness.^(Niermeyer 1976) It became Spanish and Portuguese ''lindo'' “pretty”, beside the learned ''legítimo''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|legitimate]] came in the mid-15th century from Medieval Latin ''lēgitimātus''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 86/82 BC – The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' uses it of the law.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of what is statutory.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of legitimate children and valid contracts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''legitimate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the law, legal.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Prescribed by law, statutory; valid in law; of children, [[m|en|legitimate]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lawful, permitted.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Regular, proper; by the rules of art.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Genuine, real.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of full age; trustworthy.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[illēgitimus]]

+ * [[lēgitimō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lēgifer]]

+ * [[lēgitimē]]

+ * [[lēx]]

+ * [[lēgālis]]

+ * [[en|legitimate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}