Legitimacy

Lawfulness; in particular, the civil condition of a child born in lawful wedlock. Opposed, illegitimacy.

Legitimate.

1, v. To confer a legal status upon: as, to legitimate a bastard. 2, adj. (1) Born in lawful wedlock, or within a competent time afterwards. Opposed, illegitimate. (2) Authorized, constitutional, or lawful: as, the legitimate government.

Legitimation

Changing the civil status of a bastard to the status of a lawful child. Legitimatize; legitimize. To make lawful; to legitimate, q. v. In most of the States, subsequent marriage of the parents, and recognition by the father, legitimizes an illegitimate child.

See Bastard.