Le"gal (lē"gal), a. [L. legalis, fr.
lex, legis, law;
prob. orig., that which lies
or is fixed
(cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. légal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal,
Leal.]
1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not
forbid.
2.
(Theol.) (a) According to the law of
works, as distinguished
from free grace; or resting on works for salvation.
(b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law
of Moses.
3. (Law) Governed by the rules of
law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets.
Bouvier. Burrill.
Legal cap. See under Cap. -- Legal tender. (a) The act of tendering in the performance of a contract or
satisfaction of a claim that
which the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the
law prescribes or permits.
(b) That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to
receive. It differs in different
countries.
Syn. -- Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. See Lawful.
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