legitime

Legitime is the unaccented form of the French word légitime, which means legitimate, rightful, or lawful. In English-language texts it often appears without the accent or is used as a translation of the French term. The word is encountered in legal, historical, and political contexts where French terminology is used or where a direct reference to legitimacy is intended.

Etymology and meaning: Legitime derives from Latin legitimus, meaning lawful or proper, through Old French. The sense centers on conformity to law, custom, or rightful claim.

Law and inheritance: In civil-law traditions, la légitime refers to a portion of an estate that must be reserved for certain heirs, typically children, and cannot be entirely disposed of by a will. This concept is designed to protect the rights of forced heirs. The remaining portion of the estate, if any, can be freely bequeathed and is known in some systems as the disposable or libre part. The specifics of how la légitime is calculated and enforced vary by jurisdiction and historical period.

Politics and philosophy: The term légitime (and its noun legitimacy) is central to discussions of political authority. Legitimacy concerns whether a government or ruling body has the right to rule, which may be assessed by legality, consent, effectiveness, and the support of the governed. While légitime and legitimacy are related, the nuances differ across languages and legal traditions.

Usage notes: In English writing, legimate is rarely used; authors typically use legitimate or, when referring to the French concept, la légitime. The accented form légitime remains common in French-language legal and scholarly texts.

See also: legitimacy, légitimité, légitime defense.