legitimate
//lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət//
Forms
- Comparative
- more legitimate
- Superlative
- most legitimate
- Plural
- legitimates
- present (v1)
- legitimate
- past (v2)
- legitimated
- past participle (v3)
- legitimated
- present participle
- legitimating
- 3rd person singular
- legitimates
Definitions
1.In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements.
- Rodwell was sent off by referee Martin Atkinson - who has shown 15 red cards since the start of last season - after 23 minutes for what appeared to be a legitimate challenge on Suarez.
2.Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.
- Tillotson still keeps his place as a legitimate English classic.
3.Authentic, real, genuine.
- The truth is, when we fail to protect legitimate rights of others and continue to expand the net of lies and defamation, every one would become victims one day including ourselves.
4.Marital.
- Besides his four legitimate wives, the caliph had dozens of concubines.
1.A person born to a legally married couple.
- His overweening pride received another shock through his new friends the legitimates.
- But should a “holy alliance of legitimates” extinguish it, it will be but for a season.
- This extraordinarily mixed family of legitimates and illegitimates seems to have maintained a certain kind of harmony.
1.To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3239
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English legitimat, legytymat, from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus, perfect passive participle of Latin lēgitimō (“to make legal”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful”), originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from Latin lēx (“law”). Originally "lawfully begotten".