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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
The state of being unlawful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Synonyms: lawlessness, unlaw, illegality, illegalness, unlawfulness, criminality, feloniousness, illicitness
Antonyms: lawfulness, legality, legalness, law, rule of law
noun
An unlawful act.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Synonyms: unlaw, crime, criminal offence, criminality, delinquency, malefaction, perpetration, unlawfulness, offense, outrage
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the quality of failing to conform to law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: lawfulness
Broader terms: quality
Narrower terms: illegality, illegitimacy, illicitness, shadiness
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English lawful Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English unlawfulness From un- + lawful + -ness.
Across languages
14 source translations are retained for this English entry.
