Legitimum

Legitimum is the neuter singular form of the Latin adjective legitimus, meaning lawful, rightful, or proper. In Latin, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify, so legitimum appears when the referent is a neuter singular noun or when used as a substantive to denote the thing that is legitimate.

Etymology and sense: Legitimus comes from the Latin root related to law, with the suffix -imus forming the adjective. The sense develops from “permitted by law” to “lawful, proper,” with usage spanning legal, political, and moral contexts. The opposite term in Latin is illegitimus, meaning illegitimate or unlawful.

Usage in Latin texts: Legitimus is common in legal and administrative language to denote things sanctioned by law or custom, such as acts, claims, or authorities that are recognized as legitimate. Phrases such as res legitima (a legitimate matter or thing), actus legitimus (a lawful act), and filius legitimus (a legitimate son) illustrate its typical function as an attribute or, when neuter, as a substantive referring to the legitimate item itself.

Modern reception and translation: In studies of Roman law and political theory, legitimum is often encountered in translations and discussions of legitimacy and legality. It helps convey distinctions between what is authorized by law versus what is not, a distinction central to discussions of sovereignty, property, and succession in ancient and medieval contexts.

See also: Legitimacy, Legality, Latin language, Illegitimus.