Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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adj
In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: lawful, legal, de jure, legitimate, licit, rightful
Antonyms: illegitimate
adj
Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: legit, licit, acceptable, allowable, legitimate, leveful, permissible, rightful, rulable, true, valid
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Authentic, real, genuine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: bona fide, pukka, actual, authentic, genuine, legit, legitimate, lubish, non-fake, real, sterling, true, unadulterated, uncounterfeited, undissembled, unfaked, unfeigned, veritable
Antonyms: illegitimate, false, artificial, bad, bogus, bollocks, concocted, counterfeit, ersatz, fabricated, falsified, fake, faux, feigned, forged, fraudulent, ingenuine, mock, phoney, phony-baloney, phony, phony as a three-dollar bill, pseudo, put-up, said to be, sham, spurious, synthetic, unauthentic, unreal, trumped-up
adj
Marital.
Lawfully begotten, i.e. born to a married couple or later legitimated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: rightful
Antonyms: illegitimate
adj
Marital.
Legally married.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: rightful
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Relating to hereditary rights.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Belonging or relating to the legitimate theater.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person born to a legally married couple.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: illegitimate
adjective satellite
authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: lawful, licit
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
based on known statements or events or conditions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: logical
Antonyms: none provided
verb
make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change, alter, modify
verb
show or affirm to be just and legitimate
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: justify, vindicate
verb
make legal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: legalize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimize, legitimise, legitimatize, legitimatise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: permit, allow, let, countenance
Narrower terms: monetize, monetise
History
From Middle English legitimat, legytymat, from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus, perfect passive participle of Latin lēgitimō (“to make legal”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful”), originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from Latin lēx (“law”). Originally "lawfully begotten". The noun was derived from the adjective within English or earlier by substantivization (see -ate (noun-forming suffix)), the verb from the adjective by conversion (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)).
Across languages
87 source translations are retained for this English entry.
