legalnessn.

1631 J. Ussher Let. 10 Aug. in MSS Earl Cowper in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. I (1888) iv. xi. 707 in Parl. Papers C. 5472 LXIII. 1 (modernized text) Sometimes there is so much made of His Majesty's letters, that there must be no dispute made of them: simple obedience they say is required, and not inquiry into the legalness of the command.

1649 Triall Lieut. Col. J. Lilburne 15 A piece of un-legeable Parchment, which cannot satisfie my understanding of the Legalnesse of my convention before you.

?1700 I. Newton Draft Let. in Corr. (1977) VII. 413 The opinion of ye Attorney Gen[era]l should be had concerning the legalness of their Mint & the form of a licence.

1875 York Herald 27 Feb. 6/2 He wanted his own lawlessness to be legalness.

1885 J. L. Meagher Seven Gates of Heaven 83 These matters..relate only to the legalness of the act, and not in any way to the validity of the sacrament.

1926 Hattiesburg (Mississippi) Amer. 17 Apr. 6/4 This new law that has been adopted does not in any way affect the legalness of a marriage.

1990 A. V. Horwitz Logic Social Control 128 Griffiths..postulates that the degree of legalness of social control..varies inversely with the relational distance between disputing parties.

1645 J. Saltmarsh Free-grace Occasional Word sig. A6 The other, hearing of holinesse, of duties and obedience, think there will follow nothing but legalnesse.

a1665 J. Goodwin Πλήρωμα τὸ Πνευματικόv (1670) xv. 433 They impute legalness (as they call it)..to the Ministry, under which they have no mind to continue.

1745 J. Wesley Dialogue between Antinomian & Friend 6 Law! Works! Commandments! O what Legalness is in your Spirit!