illegally-gained
|il-le-gal-ly-gained|
/ɪˈliːɡəli ɡeɪnd/
unlawfully obtained
Etymology
'illegally-gained' originates from the combination of 'illegal' and 'gain', where 'illegal' comes from Latin 'illegalis', meaning 'not legal', and 'gain' from Old French 'gaigner', meaning 'to earn or win'.
'illegal' changed from the Latin word 'illegalis' and 'gain' from Old French 'gaigner', eventually forming the modern English term 'illegally-gained'.
Initially, 'illegal' meant 'not legal', and 'gain' meant 'to earn or win'. The combination now refers to assets obtained unlawfully.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
obtained in a manner that is not permitted by law.
The authorities seized the illegally-gained assets.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/04/10 20:14