LEGITIMATE


Meaning of LEGITIMATE in English

— legitimately , adv. — legitimateness , n. — legitimation , n.

adj. , n. /li jit"euh mit/ ; v. /li jit"euh mayt'/ , adj., v., legitimated, legitimating , n.

adj.

1. according to law; lawful: the property's legitimate owner.

2. in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards.

3. born in wedlock or of legally married parents: legitimate children.

4. in accordance with the laws of reasoning; logically inferable; logical: a legitimate conclusion.

5. resting on or ruling by the principle of hereditary right: a legitimate sovereign.

6. not spurious or unjustified; genuine: It was a legitimate complaint.

7. of the normal or regular type or kind.

8. Theat. of or pertaining to professionally produced stage plays, as distinguished from burlesque, vaudeville, television, motion pictures, etc.: an actor in the legitimate theater.

v.t.

9. to make lawful or legal; pronounce or state as lawful: Parliament legitimated his accession to the throne.

10. to establish as lawfully born: His bastard children were afterward legitimated by law.

11. to show or declare to be legitimate or proper: He was under obligation to legitimate his commission.

12. to justify; sanction or authorize: His behavior was legitimated by custom.

n.

13. the legitimate , the legitimate theater or drama.

14. a person who is established as being legitimate.

[ 1485-95; legitimatus (ptp. of legitimare to make lawful). See LEGITIM, -ATE 1 ]

Syn. 1. legal, licit. 2. sanctioned. 4. valid. 9. legalize.

Ant. 1. illegitimate.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .