[lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- conforming to the law or to rules
(e.g: his claims to legitimate authority)

- able to be defended with logic or justification; valid
(e.g: a legitimate excuse for being late)

- constituting or relating to serious drama as distinct from musical comedy, revue, etc.
(e.g: the legitimate theatre)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘born of parents lawfully married to each other’): from medieval Latin legitimatus ‘made legal’, from the verb legitimare, from Latin legitimus ‘lawful’, from lex, leg- ‘law’

[lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmeɪt], (Verb)

Definitions:
- make lawful or justify
(e.g: the regime was not legitimated by popular support)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘born of parents lawfully married to each other’): from medieval Latin legitimatus ‘made legal’, from the verb legitimare, from Latin legitimus ‘lawful’, from lex, leg- ‘law’