legitimation

Borrowed from Medieval Latin legitimatio, legitimationem, from to legitimate, from Latin legitimus.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /lɪdʒɪtɪˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/

legitimation (usually uncountable, plural legitimations)

1. The process of making or declaring a person legitimate.
2. (obsolete) Legitimacy.
   • c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene i]:

     I am not Sir Roberts sonne, / I haue disclaim'd Sir Robert and my land, / Legitimation, name, and all is gone […] .

3. The act of establishing something as lawful; authorization.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 231:

     Le Paige established a legitimation for the Parlement's authority which was part history, part romantic fiction, and part political wishful thinking.

• legitimization

legitim +‎ -tion

legitimation c

1. an ID card or other means of identification; an ID

• leg / legg
• identifikation

• legitimera