Where does “illegal” come from?
Illegal comes from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, composed of Latin in- (not) and -alis (suffix), with in- deriving from Proto-Indo-European ne (not) and -alis from the root leǵ- (to lay or gather).
illegal (English): Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially...
Definitions
- Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially...
Ancestry of “illegal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | illégal | illegal; not permitted by law |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | illegalis | illegal |
| 3 | Latin | lēgālis | legal |
| 4 | Latin | lēx | a proposition or motion for a law made to the people by a magistrate, a bill |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | lēg- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ-s | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ- | to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to... |