[f. med.L. lēgitimāt-, ppl. stem of lēgitimāre (see prec.). Cf. F. légitimer, Sp., Pg. legitimar, It. legitimare.]
1. trans. To render (a bastard) legitimate; to establish the legitimacy of (a person) by an authoritative declaration or decree.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1631), 280. With the Popes auouch, who legitimated him.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 9 Nov. It is much talked of that the king intends to legitimate the Duke of Monmouth.
1701. De Foe, Power Coll. Body People, Misc. (1703), 149. Another Parliament Legitimated Queen Elizabeth.
1809. J. Adams, Wks. (1854), IX. 316–7. What is impressment of seamen?… No parliament ever dared to legitimate or sanction it.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), III. 75. One object of which was to legitimate the duke of Lancaster’s ante-nuptial children.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. viii. 176. The children were according to the law … legitimated by the subsequent marriage of their parents.
fig. 1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 15. Straining their wittes to legitimate bastardly broods of opinions.
a. 1640. Jackson, Creed, XI. xviii. § 5. The seeds of this accursed sin are more than legitimated, ranked amongst the essential parts of honour.
2. To render lawful or legal, to give a lawful or legal character to; to authorize by legal enactment. In early use, To give (a person) a legal claim to (something).
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., II. xlv. (1532), 115. Whether the Pope may legittimate one to temporall thynges.
1586. Warner, Albion’s Eng., II. lxvii. 285. With Marrage, that legitimates our Propagation.
1658. T. Wall, Charac. Enemies Ch., 65. These men can do more then God, they can legitimate any wickedness.
1715. Bentley, Serm., x. 348. Nay, a particular edition shall be legitimated and consecrated.
1798. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., XXV. 566. Their feudal laws, by legitimating orderly gradations of oppression, completed the misfortune of the times.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Sept., 10. He not only supplies himself with a magazine of arms, but with a portfolio of judges’ orders legitimating their use.
3. To affirm or show to be legitimate; to authorize or justify by word or example; to serve as justification for.
1611. W. Sclater, Key (1629), 164. [An hypocrite] countenanceth, yea, legitimateth, wilfull rebellion against the law of God.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, iii. § 8 (1727), 108. Our Blessed Lord was pleased to legitimate fear to us, by his agony and prayers in the garden.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xxvii. 466. The Gospel legitimates no hopes of salvation, but such as are accompanied with serious efforts of mortification.
1713. Nelson, Life Bp. Bull, 292. All such terms and Phrases as are not expressly legitimated by the sacred writers.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xvii. (1840), 306. Necessity legitimates my advice; for it is the only way to save our lives.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Economy, I. 179. Unless Economy’s consent Legitimate expense.
c. 1820. Fuseli, in Lect. Paint., xii. (1848), 557. Sculpture lent her hand to legitimate the sacrilege.
1824–9. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 215. National safety legitimates all means employed upon it.
1846. Trench, Mirac., Introd. (1862), 4. He warns him that Pharaoh will require him to legitimate his mission.
Hence Legitimated ppl. a.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VIII. 415. Gabrielle a legitimated Daughter of France, one of his own natural Sisters.
1723. Lond. Gaz., No. 6161/1. Paris.… The King has settled the Ranks and Honours of the legitimated Princes.
1799. W. Tooke, View Russian Emp., II. 130. According to a legitimated statement already mentioned.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vi. § 1. 267. Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, a legitimated son of John of Gaunt.
