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English word legal comes from Latin lēgālis (“legal”), from lēx (“law”), which ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *leǵ- (to lie) and its causative form *logʰeye- (to lie down), which started signifying law in the sense of something lied down
*leǵ- (Proto-Indo-European)
to collect, to speak, to leak
*leǵ-s (Proto-Indo-European)
*lēg- (Proto-Italic)
legis (Latin)
legalis (Latin)
Law (attributive). Legal.
legal (English)
(informal) Above the age of consent or the legal drinking age.. Being allowed or prescribed by law.. Having its basis in the law.. Relating to the law or to lawyers. (countable) A spy who is attached to, and ostensibly employed by, an embassy, military outpost, etc.. (uncountable, US, Canada) Paper in sheets 8½ in × 14 in (215.9 mm × 355.6 mm).. (uncountable, informal) The legal department [...]