legalized
UK[ˈliːɡəlaɪzd]US[ˈliːɡəlaɪzd]
adj
Made lawful or permitted by official statute or authority.
verb (past tense)
To have made an activity or substance lawful.
Morpheme Breakdown
legal
ize
d
legal
law
ize
make
d
past/adj. suffix
Etymology
The word 'legalized' is built upon the Latin foundation lex, legis meaning "law". The adjective legalis (pertaining to law) entered English via Old French as 'legal'. The productive suffix '-ize', of ultimate Greek origin, was attached to create the verb 'legalize', meaning "to make legal". The final '-d' marks the simple past tense or the past participle, which can function as an adjective. Thus, the term's literal construction—"made pertaining to the law"—precisely conveys its modern meaning of an action or state rendered lawful by authority.
Analysis
Structure: legal (law) + ize (make) + d (past/adj. suffix)
- legal: From Latin legalis (pertaining to the law), from lex (law). Functions as the core root.
- ize: A verb-forming suffix from Greek -izein, via Latin -izare and French -iser. Means "to make, to become, to subject to".
- d: A suffix indicating past tense for verbs or forming participial adjectives.
Examples
Several states have legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
The newly legalized gambling district has seen a surge in tourism.
The government legalized the practice after a lengthy public consultation.