Pronunciation: - ˌ m ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -mat · ed ; -mat · ing
Date: 1531
: to make legitimate: a (1) : to give legal status or authorization to (2) : to show or affirm to be justified (3) : to lend authority or respectability to b : to put (a bastard) in the state of a legitimate child before the law by legal means
– le · git · i · ma · tion \ - ˌ ji-t ə - ' m ā -sh ə n \ noun
– le · git · i · mat · or \ - ' ji-t ə - ˌ m ā -t ə r \ noun