English
illicit
Illicit comes from Latin illicitus ‘forbidden, unlawful, illegal, illicit’, from licitus ‘allowed, permitted’, and ultimately from licet.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElicet‘it is allowed’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElicitus‘allowed, permitted’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillicitus‘forbidden, unlawful, illegal, illicit’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentillicite
- Englishearliest quotation 1993illicit
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElicet‘it is allowed’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElicitus‘allowed, permitted’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEillicitus‘forbidden, unlawful, illegal, illicit’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentillicite
- Englishearliest quotation 1993illicit
Earliest quotation: 1993, Alan Clark, Diaries: In Power 1983-1992: “I only can properly enjoy carol services if I…”
Linked words
through Latin licet ‘it is allowed’
Today it means
adj Not approved by law, but not invalid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin licet / illicit