[le.gal] adj [MF, fr. L legalis, fr. leg-, lex law] (ca. 1500) 1: of or relating to law
2. a: deriving authority from or founded on law: de jure b: having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact: titular "a corporation is a ~ but not a real person" c: established by law; esp: statutory
3: conforming to or permitted by law or established rules
4: recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity
5: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members
6: created by the constructions of the law "a ~ fiction" syn see lawful -- le.gal.ly adv
[2]legal n (1526): one that conforms to rules or the law