licit

See also: líčit

English

WOTD – 18 August 2008

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin licitus (“lawful”), perfect participle of licet (“[it] is permitted”, impersonal verb).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɪs.ɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (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.
   • 1913, Joseph Selinger, Catholic Encyclopedia, "Moral and Canonical Aspect of Marriage"

     The contract validly made and consummated is dissolved by death alone. However, the Church must determine what is required for a valid and licit marriage contract.

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

• (not forbidden): lawful, appropriate, legit, legitimate
• (constituted): established, lawful, legal

Antonyms

• (legal): illicit

Translations

not forbidden

• Spanish: lícito (es) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Swahili: halali (sw)

legal term

• French: licite (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: lícito (es) m