Illicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/noun
Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
Did you know?Illicit comes from Latin illicitus, “not allowed,” built from in- + licitus (“permitted”), and that same root family also gave us words about law, permission, and what society lets through.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to bind, tie, or connect”
Latin
Latin
licere
“to be permitted, to be lawful”
Latin
Latin
licitus
“permitted, lawful”
Late Latin
Latin
illicitus
“not permitted, unlawful”
Middle English
English
illicite
“unlawful, forbidden”
Modern English
English
illicit
“forbidden by law, rules, or custom”