Etymology
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illegitimate (adj.)

1530s, "born out of wedlock," formed in English (and replacing earlier illegitime, c. 1500), modeled on Late Latin illegitimus "not legitimate" (see il- + legitimate). Sense of "unauthorized, unwarranted" is from 1640s. Phrase illegitimi non carborundum, usually "translated" as "don't let the bastards grind you down," is fake Latin (by 1965, said to date from c. 1939). Carborundum was a brand of abrasives. Related: Illegitimately.

Entries linking to illegitimate

il- 
assimilated form of Latin prefix in- used with words beginning in l-; see in-.
legitimate (adj.)

mid-15c., "lawfully begotten, born of parents legally married," from past participle of Old French legitimer and directly from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare "make lawful, declare to be lawful," from Latin legitimus "lawful," originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from lex (genitive legis) "law" (see legal). Transferred sense of "genuine, real" is attested from 1550s. Related: Legitimately; legitimateness. The older adjective in English was legitime "lawful, of legitimate birth" (late 14c.), from Old French legitime, from Latin legitimus.

updated on October 11, 2015

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Definitions of illegitimate from WordNet
1
illegitimate (adj.)
contrary to or forbidden by law;
an illegitimate seizure of power
Synonyms: illicit / outlaw / outlawed / unlawful
illegitimate (adj.)
of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful;
2
illegitimate (n.)
the illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents;
Synonyms: bastard / by-blow / love child / illegitimate child / whoreson
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near illegitimate

illegal

illegality

illegally

illegible

illegitimacy

illegitimate

ill-fated

ill-favored

ill-gotten

illiberal

illicit

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper