Illicity
/ɪˈlɪsɪti/noun
The state or quality of being illicit or unlawful.
Did you know?Illicity is a rare back-formation-like noun built from illicit, whose deeper Latin ancestry comes from licere, meaning “to be permitted.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leik-
“Possibly related to a root associated with being permitted or left open; the deeper ancestry is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
licēre
“To be permitted, lawful, or allowed.”
Classical Latin
Latin
illicitus
“Not permitted; unlawful, formed with in- meaning “not” and licitus meaning “allowed.””
14th Century
Anglo-French/English
illicit
“Forbidden by law, rule, or custom.”
Modern English
English
illicity
“The condition of being illicit; a rare abstract noun formed from illicit with the suffix -ity.”
Explore more surprising origins