leg•i•tim(lej′i tim),USA pronunciationn.[Roman and Civil Law, Scots Law.]the part of an estate that children or other close relatives can claim against the decedent's testament.Also, le•git•i•me(li jit′ə mē′).USA pronunciation
Latin lēgitima (pars) the lawful (part), equivalent. to lēgi- (stem of lēx law) + -tima, feminine of -timus adjective, adjectival suffix