legal

Main Entry:: ¹le·gal
Pronunciation:: \ˈlē-gəl\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Anglo-French, from Latin legalis, from leg-, lex law
Date:: circa 1500

1: of or relating to law2 a: deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure b: having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular <a corporation is a legal but not a real person> c: established by law; especially : statutory3: conforming to or permitted by law or established rules4: recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity5: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members6: created by the constructions of the law <a legal fiction>

synonyms see lawful

— le·gal·ly

\-gə-lē\ adverb

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