illegitimately-held
|il-le-git-i-mate-ly-held|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtəmətli hɛld/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli hɛld/
unlawfully possessed
Etymology
Etymology Information
'illegitimately-held' originates from the Latin word 'illegitimus,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'legitimus' meant 'lawful.'
Historical Evolution
'illegitimus' transformed into the Old French word 'illégitime,' and eventually became the modern English word 'illegitimate.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'not lawful,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not legally or morally acceptable.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
possessed or controlled in a manner that is not legally or morally acceptable.
The company was accused of having illegitimately-held assets.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/17 13:46