1. Making, or having the power to make, a law or laws; lawmaking; --
distinguished from executive; as, a legislative act; a legislative
body.
The supreme legislative power of England was lodged in the king and
great council, or what was afterwards called the Parliament.
Hume.
2. Of or pertaining to the making of laws; suitable to legislation; as,
the transaction of legislative business; the legislative style.
Leg"is*la*tive*ly, adv. In a legislative manner.
Leg"is*la`tor (lj"s*l`tr), n. [L. legis lator, prop., a proposer of a
law; lex, legis, law + lator a proposer, bearer, fr. latus, used as p.
p. of ferre to bear: cf. F. législateur. See Legal, and Tolerate.] A
lawgiver; one who makes laws for a state or community; a member of a
legislative body.
The legislators in ancient and heroical times.
Bacon.
Many of the legislators themselves had taken an oath of abjuration
of his Majesty's person and family.
E. Phillips.
Leg`is*la*to"ri*al (- l*t"r*al), a. Of or pertaining to a legislator or
legislature.
Leg"is*la`tor*ship (lj"s*l`tr*shp), n. The office of a legislator.
Halifax.
{ Leg"is*la`tress (-trs), Leg"is*la`trix (-trks), } n. A woman who
makes laws. Shaftesbury.
Leg"is*la`ture (lj"s*l`tr; 135), n. [Cf. F. législature.] The body of
persons in a state or kingdom invested with power to make and repeal
laws; a legislative body.
Without the concurrent consent of all three parts of the
legislature, no law is, or can be, made.
Sir M. Hale.
The legislature of Great Britain consists of the Lords and Commons,
with the king or queen, whose sanction is necessary to every bill
before it becomes a law. The legislatures of most of the United States
consist of two houses or branches; but the sanction or consent of the
governor is required to give their acts the force of law, or a
concurrence of two thirds of the two houses after he has refused his
sanction and assigned his objections.
Le"gist (l"jst), n. [F. légiste, LL. legista, fr. L. lex, legis, law.
See Legal.] One skilled in the laws; a writer on law. Milman. J.
Morley.
Le*git"im (l*j"m), n. [See Legitimate, a.] (Scots Law) The portion of
movable estate to which the children are entitled upon the death of the
father.
Le*git"i*ma*cy (-*m*s), n. [See Legitimate, a.] The state, or quality,
of being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of
having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock.
The doctrine of Divine Right, which has now come back to us, like a
thief from transportation, under the alias of Legitimacy.
Macaulay.
Le*git"i*mate (-mt), a. [LL. legitimatus, p. p. of legitimare to
legitimate, fr. L. legitimus legitimate. See Legal.] 1. Accordant with
law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as,
legitimate government; legitimate rights; the legitimate succession to
the throne; a legitimate proceeding of an officer; a legitimate heir.