licit

See also: líčit

English

WOTD – 18 August 2008

Etymology

From Latin licitus (lawful), perfect participle of licet ([it] is permitted, impersonal verb).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈlɪs.ɪt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪsɪt

Adjective

licit (comparative more licit, superlative most licit)

  1. Not forbidden by formal or informal rules.
    • Undated, Pope Honorius III Solet Annuere (anonymous translator),
      Let it not be in any way licit to anyone among men to infringe this page of our confirmation, or to contravene it with rash daring.
    • 1896, Robert Louis Stevenson, Weir of Hermiston, Chapter 4
      You seem to have been very much offended because your father talks a little sculduddery after dinner, which it is perfectly licit for him to do, [...]
    • 2008, July 27, Jeremy Seabrook, "Obama and the illusion of leadership", The Guardian,
      [T]he vanity of efforts to deter humanity from following this licit and highly profitable mobility, clearly indicate the limits of their [leaders'] power.
  2. (law) Explicitly established or constituted by law.

Usage notes

  • Licit and valid are legal terms to be compared, especially in terms of canon law. Something that is licit (such as a marriage contract), may nonetheless be invalid, illegal or both (for example, a bigamous marriage), or vice versa.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

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