illegitimate
33
6.1
- adjective
- /ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/
- Formal
- In the French law, there is no difference between legitimate and illegitimate children when it comes to their right to inherit.
- an illegitimate child
- an illegitimate son
- an illegitimate birth
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Watch on YouTubeHe's born illegitimate in the village of Vinci, and he's gay and he's left-handed and he's distracted and his father won't legitimize him.
- He's born illegitimate in the village of Vinci, and he's gay and he's left-handed and he's distracted and his father won't legitimize him.
- In this context, in that time, it means an illegitimate child.
- And the young daughter who'd gone to the city comes back with an illegitimate child.
Examples
-
Carrie Buck was one of several illegitimate children borne by her mother, Emma.
Academic text (2002) -
Most women giving birth to illegitimate children were servants of scant means.
Academic text (1993) -
Her parents would take her away, keeping her and her illegitimate child far away.
Fiction book (2002) -
My poor, illegitimate child will pretend not to know me.
-
Lieutenant Henry is the illegitimate son of President Wilson.
-
In both census years, there were more legitimate children in this position than illegitimate ones.
Academic text (1993) -
Nevertheless, Marie takes in Lipsha, June's illegitimate son, and cares for him.
Academic text (1997) -
Edmund is an illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, and he's about to tell us of his plans.
-
The overwhelming majority of Russia's newly emerging cohort of illegitimate children, it seems, were being raised by single mothers.
Academic text (2005) -
He felt ashamed of being an illegitimate child, raised without his father's recognition.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A child born to parents who are not married
Born to parents who are not married to each other
A child born to parents who are not married
Born to parents who are not married
Antonyms
Compounds
How Legitimate
Surface Forms
Morphology
illegitimate = legitimate (transparent) = il + legitimat
The prefix 'il-' clearly negates the meaning of 'legitimate', making the word's meaning directly derivable.
Etymology
Illegitimate comes from in- 'not' and legitimus 'allowed by law', the same root as legal. So when it describes a child or marriage, it means 'not legally recognized', for example a child born when the parents were not married.