le·gal
(l
g
l)
KEY
ADJECTIVE:
- Of, relating to, or concerned with law:
legal papers.
-
- Authorized by or based on law:
a legal right.
- Established by law; statutory:
the legal owner.
- In conformity with or permitted by law:
legal business operations.
- Recognized or enforced by law rather than by equity.
- In terms of or created by the law:
a legal offense.
- Applicable to or characteristic of attorneys or their profession.
NOUN:
- One that is in accord with certain rules or laws.
-
legals
Investments that may be legally made by fiduciaries and certain institutions, such as savings banks and insurance companies.
Also called
legal list
.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin
lg
lis, from
lx
, lg-,
law; see
leg- in Indo-European roots
OTHER FORMS:
legal·ly
(Adverb)
