legalise
UK: ˈliːɡəlaɪz | US: ˈliːɡəlaɪz
vt. to make something legal or permissible by law
vt. to authorize or sanction formally
legalise = legal<law> + ise<verb suffix (to make)>
- legal: From Latin legalis (pertaining to law), derived from lex (law).
- ise: A verb-forming suffix of Greek/Latin origin (via French -iser), meaning "to make" or "to render."
Etymology Origin:
The word legalise combines legal, rooted in Latin lex (law), with the suffix -ise, which transforms nouns into verbs meaning "to make X." It emerged in English (early 19th century) to describe the process of granting legal status, reflecting societal shifts toward formalizing previously prohibited acts (e.g., "legalise a protest"). The suffix -ise (often -ize in US English) underscores action, turning the abstract concept of "law" into an actionable verb.
The government plans to legalise cannabis for medical use.
Activists campaigned to legalise same-sex marriage nationwide.
Some countries have yet to legalise euthanasia.
The bill seeks to legalise online gambling under strict regulations.
Historically, societies gradually legalise practices once deemed immoral.