lawful age

1 definition found

lawful age - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Lawful \Law"ful\, a.
     1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful
        owner of lands.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Lawful age, the age when the law recognizes one's right of
        independent action; majority; -- generally the age of
        twenty-one years. Also called legal age or age of  majority
        .
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: In some of the States, and for some purposes, a woman
           attains lawful age at eighteen. --Abbott.
  
     Syn: Legal; constitutional; allowable; regular; rightful.
  
     Usage: Lawful, Legal. Lawful means conformable to the
            principle, spirit, or essence of the law, and is
            applicable to moral as well as juridical law. Legal
            means conformable to the letter or rules of the law as
            it is administered in the courts; conformable to
            juridical law. Legal is often used as antithetical to
            equitable, but lawful is seldom used in that sense. --
            Law"ful*ly, adv. -- Law"ful*ness, n.
            [1913 Webster]