Legitime

a. and sb. Also 6 legytym, 6–7 legittime, 8–9 legitim. [a. F. légitime adj. and sb., ad. L. lēgitimus, f. lēg-, lēx LAW.]

  † A.  adj. Obs.

  1.  = LEGITIMATE a. 1. In early use absol. or quasi-sb.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 210. Þe grace That leelle legitime by lawe may cleyme.

1536.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxxvi. 182. The Kings highnes should make and declare the said Lady Mary to bee legitime.

1568.  Mary, Lett., Jan., in H. Campbell, Love Lett. Mary Q. Scots, App. (1824), 30. To … cause him [the Erle of Murray] to be declarit legitime to succeid unto the crowne of Scotland.

  b.  transf. Genuine: = LEGITIMATE 1 b.

1614.  W. Barclay, Nepenthes, in Arb., App. to Jas. I. Counterbl., 116. To apparell some European plants with Indian coats, and to enstall them in shops as righteous and legittime Tabacco.

  2.  = LEGITIMATE 2.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. cxlii. (1869), 131. Engendred in legitime mariage.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xxi. 258. If after the legittime appellacyon he hath proceded in cause.

c. 1530.  L. Cox, Rhet. (1899), 46. Aristotle deuideth Justice in .ii. kyndes, one, legitime or legall, and an other, equyte.

1660.  J. Lloyd, Prim. Episc., 37. He calls it [the Lord’s Prayer] the legitime and ordinary prayer.

1669.  Treaty betw. Chas. II. & Dk. Savoy, in Magens, Insurances (1755), II. 639. To constitute Sir John Finch Kn^t … his true and legitime Plenipotentiary.

1676.  Marvell, Mr. Smirke, I iij. The Elders and Brethren … were assembled in a legitime Council at Ierusalem.

1795.  Wythe, Decis. Virginia, 50. A species of right never adopted for legitime before 1779.

  b.  Of persons: Obedient to law.

1677.  Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. 47. Those things wherein the order and ornament or goodnesse of the mind consistes, we cal legal and Law: whence men become legitime and orderly.

  c.  = LEGITIMATE 2 b.

1651.  E. Prestwich, Hippolitus, Ep. Ded. A Legitime Poem often falls a sacrifice to the many-headed and no brained Multitude.

  d.  = LEGITIMATE 2 d.

c. 1530.  L. Cox, Rhet. (1899), 82. State legitime is whan the controuersy standeth in definicyon.

  B.  sb. Civil and Sc. Law. (See quot. 1845.) = L. lēgitima (pars).

a. 1768.  Erskine, Inst. Law Scot. (1773), 606. That which falls to the children, is sometimes, from the Roman law, styled the legitim, or the portion given them by the law.

1845.  Polson, Eng. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 851/1. Children are entitled … after their father’s death, to a share of his moveable property, which is called their legitime, or portion natural, or bairns’ part of gear.

1881.  Times, 9 Feb., 10/1. It [the Yorke Prize for 1880] was offered for the best essay on ‘The History of the Law of Legitim in Europe since Justinian.’