Lewis & Short

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lēgĭtĭmus, a, um, adj. [lex; cf. Cic. Top. 8, 36], fixed or appointed by law, according to law, lawful, legal, legitimate.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Adj.: dies is erat legitimus comitiis habendis, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 52, § 128: legitimum imperium habere, id. Phil. 11, 10, 26: potestas, id. Tusc. 1, 30, 74: scriptum, id. Inv. 2, 43, 125: controversiae legitimae et civiles, which come under and are settled by the laws, id. Or. 34, 120: justus et legitimus hostis, a lawful adversary, as distinguished from pirates and other outlaws, id. Off. 3, 29, 109: aetas legitima ad petendam aedilitatem, Liv. 25, 2: horae, allowed by law (for transacting any business), Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 9, § 25: impedimentum, a legal impediment, id. Agr. 2, 9, 24: poena, Suet. Claud. 14: crimen, laid down in the laws, Dig. 47, 20, 3: filius (opp. nothus), legitimate, Quint. 3, 6, 72; 5, 14, 16; Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 6, 4, 3: matrimonia, ib. 6, 4, 2: conjux, Ov. M. 10, 437: legitimis pactam junctamque tabellis amare, Juv. 6, 200.
    2. B. Subst.: lēgĭtĭma, ōrum, n., usages prescribed by law, precepts (very rare): legitimis quibusdam confectis, Nep. Phoc. 4, 2: custodite legitima mea, precepts, statutes, Vulg. Lev. 18, 26; also in sing.: legitimum sempiternum erit, id. Exod. 28, 43.
  2. II. Transf., in gen.
    1. A. l. q. legalis, of or belonging to the law, legal (post-Aug.): quaestiones, Quint. 3, 6, 72; 7, 3, 13: verba, Gell. 11, 1, 4: scientia, Just. Inst. prooem. § 4: actio injuriarum, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 2, 5, 5: judicia, Gai. Inst. 4, 103 sq.
    2. B. Right, just, proper, appropriate (class.): numerus, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 22, 57: in omnibus meis epistolis, legitima quaedam est accessio commendationis tuae, id. Fam. 7, 6, 1: illa oratorum propria et quasi legitima tractavit, ut delectaret, ut moveret, ut augeret, etc., id. Brut. 21, 82: poëma facere, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 109: sonus, id. A. P. 274: insania, Plin. 21, 31, 105, § 178: verba, Ov. F. 2, 527: partus, right, regular, Plin. 8, 43, 64, § 168; cf.: spectavit studiosissime pugiles, non legitimos et ordinarios modo, sed et catervarios, etc., Suet. Aug. 45: olus, Plin. 22, 22, 38, § 80.
      In neutr.: legitimum est, with a subject-clause, it is right, proper, suitable (post-Aug.): fistulas denum pedum longitudinis esse, legitimum est, Plin. 31, 6, 31, § 58; 33, 3, 20, § 64: seruntur lactucae anno toto: legitimum tamen, a bruma semen jacere, but the proper way is, id. 19, 8, 39, § 130.
      Hence, adv.: lēgĭtĭmē.
      1. 1. According to law, lawfully, legally, legitimately: is qui legitime procurator dicitur, Cic. Caecin. 20, 57: juste et legitime imperanti, id. Off. 1, 4, 13: non nisi legitime vult nubere, Juv. 10, 338.
      2. 2. Transf., duly, properly: faex legitime cocta, Plin. 23, 2, 31, § 64: studere, Tac. Or. 32: legitime fixis tabellis, Juv. 12, 100.