legal

a. [ L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. légal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal, Leal. ] 1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. Bouvier. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Legal cap. See under Cap. --
Legal tender. (a) The act of tendering in the performance of a contract or satisfaction of a claim that which the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the law prescribes or permits. (b) That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive. It differs in different countries.

Syn. -- Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. See Lawful. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A style of writing or speaking heavily emphasizing the abstruse technical vocabulary of the law, to the point where a speech or document may be incomprehensible to non-specialists. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. the act of legalizing; same as legalization.
Syn. -- legalization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Strictness, or the doctrine of strictness, in conforming to law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works. See Legal, 2 (a). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LL. legalitas, F. légalité. Cf. Loyalty. ] 1. The state or quality of being legal; conformity to law. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) A conformity to, and resting upon, the letter of the law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of making legal. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Legalized p. pr. & vb. n. Legalizing ] [ Cf. F. légaliser. ] 1. To make legal. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) To interpret or apply in a legal spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]