- legitimate
- 1494, "having the status of one lawfully begotten," from M.L. legitimatus, pp. of legitimare "make lawful, declare to be lawful," from L. legitimus "lawful," originally "in line with the law," from lex (gen. legis) "law." Transferred sense of "genuine, real" is attested from 1818. Shortened form legit is first recorded 1897 in theater slang.