unlegal

English

Etymology

    From un- +‎ legal. Piecewise doublet of unleal and unloyal.

    Adjective

    unlegal (comparative more unlegal, superlative most unlegal)

    1. Not connected with the law.
      Coordinate term: unmedical
      • 1857 June 23, Leigh Hunt, “Letters from Hammersmith”, in his eldest son [i.e., Thornton Leigh Hunt], editor, The Correspondence of Leigh Hunt. [], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., [], published 1862, →OCLC, page 254:
        In one respect, besides the greater regard which I retain for “words,” my sequestered unlegal, i. e. unlaw-mingled life (a terrible compound epithet that, I must own) has given me an advantage over you in keeping alive my tendency to see loveabilities in people, and thus to add to my stock of comforts; for I do not the less love old friends—quite the contrary—for when good-heartedness survives all trials and exacerbations, where can loveability be so well proved?
      • 1984, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities, Hearings on H.R. 4931 (H.R. 5604), to Authorize Certain Construction...
        I think what we are talking about is this whole question of the legislative veto which is the Supreme Court decision has, if I can use an unlegal term, thrown into a cocked hat.

    Derived terms