legitimize
UK[lɪˈdʒɪtɪmaɪz]US[lɪˈdʒɪtəˌmaɪz]
v
to make something legal or acceptable
v
to give official authority or approval to something
Morpheme Breakdown
legitim
ize
legitim
lawful
ize
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
the word 'legitimize' is built upon the latin foundation of law and order. its core component, 'legitim', traces back to the latin 'legitimus', meaning 'lawful' or 'according to the law', which itself originates from 'lex' (law). the suffix 'ize', entering english via french and latin from greek, is a productive morpheme that converts nouns and adjectives into verbs meaning 'to make' or 'to render'. therefore, the literal construction 'to make lawful' perfectly captures the modern abstract sense of conferring legality, validity, or social acceptance upon an action, institution, or claim.
Analysis
Structure: legitim (lawful) + ize (verb-forming suffix)
legitim is derived from the latin root 'legitimus', meaning lawful, from 'lex' (law). ize is a verb-forming suffix of greek origin via latin and french, meaning 'to make' or 'to become'.
Examples
the new law seeks to legitimize certain digital currencies.
the treaty helped to legitimize the newly formed government on the world stage.
some argue that celebrity endorsements can legitimize unhealthy products.