I.fixed or appointed by law, according to law, lawful, legal, legitimate.
I. Lit.
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.—
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.—
II. Transf., in gen.
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.—
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. 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. Transf., duly, properly: “faex legitime cocta,” Plin. 23, 2, 31, § 64: “studere,” Tac. Or. 32: “legitime fixis tabellis,” Juv. 12, 100.