legitimate
pronunciation
How to pronounce legitimate in British English:
UK [lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət]
How to pronounce legitimate in American English:
US [lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət]
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- Verb:
- make legal
- show or affirm to be just and legitimate
- make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
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- Adjective:
- of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
- in accordance with reason or logic
- in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
- authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
Word Origin
- legitimate (adj.)
- mid-15c., "lawfully begotten," from Middle French legitimer and directly from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare "make lawful, declare to be lawful," from Latin legitimus "lawful," originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from lex (genitive legis) "law" (see legal). Transferred sense of "genuine, real" is attested from 1550s. Related: Legitimately.
- legitimate (v.)
- 1590s, from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare (see legitimate (adj.)). Related: Legitimated; legitimating.
Example
- 1. You 're prepared to recognize our legitimate succession ?
- 2. What is a decent and legitimate state ?
- 3. These are legitimate points of debate for other books .
- 4. All are legitimate concerns for the future .
- 5. Rsvp to legitimate online invitations promptly .