Le‐git″i‐mate (–māt), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Legitimated (–mā′tĕd); p. pr. & vb. n.Legitimating (–mā′tĭng).] To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; esp., to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means; as, to legitimate a bastard child.
To enact a statute of that which he dares not seem to approve, even to legitimate vice. Milton.