— 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.