legitimize

[ li-jit-uh-mahyz ]

/ lɪˈdʒɪt əˌmaɪz /

verb (used with object), le·git·i·mized, le·git·i·miz·ing.

to make legitimate.

Nearby words

legitimation, legitimatize, legitime, legitimism, legitimist, legitimize, leglen, legless, legman, legnica, lego

Also especially British, le·git·i·mise.

Origin of legitimize

1840–50; < Latin lēgitim(us) (see legitim) + -ize

Related formsle·git·i·mi·za·tion, noun

Can be confusedlegitimate legitimize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for legitimise

This is the sanction invoked to legitimise every adventure in invasion and colonisation.
The Open Secret of Ireland|T. M. Kettle
In them Goethe's words were fulfilled: "None are so Legitimist as those who can legitimise themselves."
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, Vol. II (of 6): The Romantic School in Germany|Georg Brandes
Carlo Malatesta went to infinite trouble to legitimise Galeotto and Sigismondo, his brother's illegitimate children.
Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume I (of 3)|James Dennistoun
To-day or never he will say to me, 'A marriage must legitimise the birth of our child!'
The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 6 of 6|Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for legitimise

legitimize

legitimise legitimatize or legitimatise (lɪˈdʒɪtɪməˌtaɪz)

/ (lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz) /

verb

(tr) to make legitimate; legalize

Derived Formslegitimization, legitimisation, legitimatization or legitimatisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for legitimise

legitimize

1795, from Latin legitimus (see legitimate) + -ize. Earlier was legitimatize (1791). Related: Legitimized; legitimizing.