illegally-held
|il-le-gal-ly-held|
C1
/ɪˈliːɡəli hɛld/
unlawfully retained
Etymology
Etymology Information
'illegally-held' originates from the English word 'illegal,' which comes from the Latin word 'illegalis,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'legalis' meant 'lawful.'
Historical Evolution
'illegal' changed from the Latin word 'illegalis' and eventually became the modern English word 'illegal.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'not lawful,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
possessed or retained in violation of the law.
The authorities seized the illegally-held weapons.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/08 01:08