unlawfully-obtained
|un-law-ful-ly-ob-tained|
/ʌnˈlɔːfəli əbˈteɪnd/
(obtain)
acquire possession
Etymology
'unlawfully-obtained' originates from the combination of 'unlawful' and 'obtain', where 'unlawful' means 'not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law' and 'obtain' means 'to get or acquire'.
'unlawfully-obtained' changed from the Old English word 'unlagu' meaning 'not according to law' and the Middle English 'obteinen' meaning 'to acquire', eventually becoming the modern English term 'unlawfully-obtained'.
Initially, 'unlawful' meant 'not according to law', and 'obtain' meant 'to acquire'. Over time, the combined term 'unlawfully-obtained' evolved to specifically refer to items or benefits acquired in violation of legal statutes.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
acquired or received in a manner that is not permitted by law.
The police confiscated the unlawfully-obtained goods.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/08 00:58