legitimi

Legitimi is a term that appears in Latin and Italian usage. It is not an English lexeme, but it occurs as a plural form in Latin and as the masculine plural of the Italian adjective legittimo. The word is used in legal, historical, and literary contexts to indicate rightful, lawful, or officially recognized status.

In Latin, legitimi is the nominative plural masculine of legitimus, meaning "the legitimate" or "the rightful ones." It could modify people or offices described as lawful by law or custom. For example, fili i legitimi (legitimate sons) or reges legitimi (legitimate kings) appear in classical texts. The form also appears in phrases where legitimacy is asserted as a legal or moral status.

In Italian, legittimo means legitimate or valid; its masculine plural is legittimi. It is widely used in everyday language and in law. Common phrases include eredi legittimi (legitimate heirs) and documenti legittimi (valid documents). In family law, the term historically contrasted with illegittimi (illegitimate) to distinguish lawful children or heirs from those born outside formal wedlock. Contemporary usage remains rooted in the same semantic field, often appearing in civil codes and legal discussions about rights, inheritance, and authenticity.

Etymology: Both senses trace to Latin legitimus, meaning lawful, rightful, preserved in the Italian legittimo. The form legittimo/legittimi retains the same core meaning in modern usage.