[ad. med.L. lēgitimātiōn-em, n. of action f. lēgitimāre to LEGITIMATE. Cf. F. légitimation.]
1. The action or process of rendering or authoritatively declaring (a person) legitimate.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 263. The duke of Lancastir purchased a legittimacion for the childyrn that he had begoten of dame Katerine Swynforth.
1543. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 188. The lettres of legitimatioun maid to the said Robert.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1093/1. Cranmer … alledging manie reasons … for the legitimation of both the kings sisters.
1617. Guillim, Heraldry, II. v. (1660), 63. By such legitimation they are discharged of all those dishonours which in former time they were subject unto.
a. 1683. Sidney, Disc. Govt., III. xxvi. (1704), 342. The intricacys of his Marriages, and the legitimation of his Children were settled by the same Power.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 110. Legitimation or the Tryal of Bastardy.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, 22 March, an. 1776. I talked of legitimation by subsequent marriage, which obtained in the Roman law, and still obtains in the law of Scotland.
1845. Polson, Eng. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 843/1. Nor can his agnates succeed to him [a bastard], unless he has obtained letters of legitimation from the king.
† 2. The condition of being legitimate; legitimacy. Obs.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), III. 392. The quhilk wedding wes lauchfull probatioun Of his barnis legitimatioun.
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 248. I haue disclaim’d Sir Robert and my land, Legitimation, name, and all is gone.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 77. His infancie and doubt of legitimation, secluding him awhile from enjoying any Soveraigntie.
1660. Bond, Scut. Reg., 50. That Son giveth cause of suspition of his Legitimation who will not mourn at his Mothers death.
1689. Locke, Govt., § 123 (1694), 120. From whence also will arise many Questions of Legitimation, and what in Nature is the difference betwixt a Wife and a Concubine.
fig. 1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 137. Mr. Bayes having gone so many months, more than the Civil Law allows for the utmost term of legitimation.
b. transf. Of a literary work: The fact that it is the work of its reputed author; authenticity, genuineness. Now rare.
1635. E. Bagshawe, To Rdr., in R. Bolton, Two Serm. (1635), A ij b. These Sermons are truely his owne … There are hundreds of people … who … can with me … attestate their legitimation.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. xi. We are yet beholding to him for asserting the truth, and legitimation of these seven Epistles of our Martyr.
1670. Walton, Lives, III. 238. In this relation concerning these three doubtful Books of Mr. Hookers … I leave my Reader to give sentence, for their legitimation.
1884. D. Hunter, trans. Reuss’s Hist. Canon, x. 167. The legitimation refused to this book [the Apocalypse] is therefore not the authenticity in the literary sense of the word.
† 3. The action of naturalizing (an alien) Obs.
1579. J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, C j b. The most large and most benificiall Legitimation made to any alien.
† 4. The action of giving a lawful character to something forbidden by law; a dispensation. Obs.
a. 1500. Image Ipocr., II. 376, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 427. He robbeth all nations With his fulminations … Legittimations.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 219. A Dispensation is … in our Books sometimes stiled a Legitimation.
5. gen. The action of making lawful; authorization; rarely concr. a document of authorization.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., I. v. A direct uncharitableness … which can receive no warrant or legitimation by the intention of the propounder.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 193. The judicious and mature Legitimation of tipling Houses.
1799. Carlton Ho. Mag., 293. The legitimation of Money, and the giving it its denominated value, is one especial part of a King’s prerogative.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Poet, Wks. (Bohn), I. 164. Herein is the legitimation of criticism, in the mind’s faith, that the poems are a corrupt version of some text in nature.
1870. Daily News, 1 Dec., 5/6. The main business of the German authorities is to throw impediments in the way os persons going about their lawful business, and fortified by adequate legitimations.
