Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Legitimize \Le*git"i*mize\ (l[-e]*j[i^]t"[i^]*m[imac]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimized (-m[imac]zd); p. pr. & vb. n. Legitimizing.] To legitimate.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1795, from Latin legitimus (see legitimate) + -ize. Earlier was legitimatize (1791). Related: Legitimized; legitimizing.
Wiktionary
alt. (context transitive English) To make legitimate. vb. (context transitive English) To make legitimate.
WordNet
v. make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized" [syn: legalize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimise, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimatise] [ant: outlaw, outlaw, outlaw, outlaw]
Usage examples of "legitimize".
More broadly, the presence of these ads certainly reinforces our desire to buy presents, and they legitimize the commercialization of Christmas.
But the spit holding us together was the power of mutual facetiae to legitimize affection.
In the twisted and nitpicky world of diplomacy, because Lincoln had blockaded the Southern ports rather than close them, foreign governments could get away with legitimizing the South.
Moses de Leon, who, they say, attributed the work to the great Tannaitic sages in an attempt to legitimize it.
Legitimizing hamburgers, however, was not an easy task, and they did not gain a great following during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Palatine Chapel and, in your presence, with a suite of loyal bishops, including Master Rainald, who as archbishop of Cologne is also the metropolitan of that province, and with a bull from Pope Paschal that legitimizes you, you proclaim Charlemagne saint.
Recognized the Soviet Union legitimized the thugs who stole Russia, the Bolshies who made it clear they want to spread Communism around the whole goddamned world.
His destination is the building that serves the Clanless Traders, the structure in which Ryalth has opened a very small office, mainly, he suspects, to legitimize her status as a woman free trader.
Perhaps Darmouth's hunger to legitimize his rulership extended to this room, where he would lay to rest the dead who would mark his descendants as true kings.
He announced that he was now a true Robertson and no longer a bastard, the Scottish court, under obdurate pressure from MacPherson, having legitimized him the afternoon before in Edinburgh.
Billy had done nothing but whine since they had rescued him from the keepers and legitimized his presence at the Voice in the Wilderness by promising to be responsible for his upkeep.
The practical results of the city's economy that legitimized the seizure and ownership of people were all around them.
Once Reverend Mother had legitimized me, there was no one to oppose her.
You are in a hereditary guild that bequeaths you this trick, in exchange for lip-service to some divine cant that legitimizes your exclusive possession of that vital trick.
Yessir, I would be happy to provide you with information legitimizing my employ at USB.