legitimation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

legitimation
    n 1: the act of rendering a person legitimate; "he has filial
         rights because he obtained letters of legitimation from the
         king"; "his parents' subsequent marriage resulted in his
         legitimation"
    2: the act of making lawful [syn: {legalization},
       {legalisation}, {legitimation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Legitimation \Le*git`i*ma"tion\ (-m[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [Cf. F.
   l['e]gitimation.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act of making legitimate.
      [1913 Webster]

            The coining or legitimation of money. --East.
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   2. Lawful birth. [R.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

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