Lawfully
adv
adv ·3 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Adverb
- 1 Conforming to the law; legally.
"This grand ceremony was immediately followed by a proclamation expreſsly forbidding the Abyſſine clergy, monks, and prieſts, to perform any prieſtly functions till they were previouſly examined and approved by the patriarch ; there being ſome reaſon to doubt whether they had been lawfully examined."
Adverb
- 1 by law; conforming to the law wordnet
- 2 in a manner acceptable to common custom wordnet
Example
More examples"When a president or a governor acts wisely and lawfully, Americans express their approval by reelecting him and by supporting his political party."
Etymology
From Middle English lawfully, lawfulliche, lawefulliche; equivalent to lawful + -ly.