legal, lawful

legal, lawful
The basic meanings of legal and lawful, as well as the distinctions in meaning between them, are explained in the entry ILLEGAL. Legal means "according to human law," but lawful has further meanings of "conforming to moral principle" and " in line with religious or ethical doctrine." Thus one refers to "legal rights" or "lawful rights" but is more likely to say "lawful marriage" than "legal marriage" and "lawful living" than "legal living."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • legal - lawful - legitimate — ◊ legal and lawful Legal and lawful both mean allowed by law . Lawful is a formal word. Talks have begun for legal retirement at 60. Capital punishment is legal in many countries …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lawful — Law ful, a. 1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent. [1913 Webster] 2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands. [1913 Webster] {Lawful age}, the age when the law recognizes one s right of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lawful age — Lawful Law ful, a. 1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent. [1913 Webster] 2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands. [1913 Webster] {Lawful age}, the age when the law recognizes one s right …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • legal age — Lawful Law ful, a. 1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent. [1913 Webster] 2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands. [1913 Webster] {Lawful age}, the age when the law recognizes one s right …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lawful — legal, lawful, legitimate, licit 1. All four words share the basic meaning ‘conforming to the law’. Something is legal when it is authorized by the law of the land, legitimate when it conforms to custom or common justice, and lawful (a more old… …   Modern English usage

  • legal — legal, lawful, legitimate, licit 1. All four words share the basic meaning ‘conforming to the law’. Something is legal when it is authorized by the law of the land, legitimate when it conforms to custom or common justice, and lawful (a more old… …   Modern English usage

  • lawful — See legal. See legal, lawful …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • legal — See legal, lawful …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • lawful — lawful, legal, legitimate, licit mean permitted, sanctioned, or recognized by law or the law. Lawful differs from the others in implying a reference to various sorts of law (as divine law, natural law, or the law of the land, or as civil law,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • lawful — law·ful adj 1 a: being in harmony with the law a lawful judgment a lawful purpose b: constituted, authorized, or established by law a lawful duty 2: law abiding …   Law dictionary

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