Delegitimises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Strips a person, institution, or idea of its rightful standing, making it no longer acceptable as valid or lawful
2. Undermines the credibility and authority of a government, rule, or claim so that it is no longer seen as proper
3. Robs an organization or belief of the justification that made it seem valid, leaving it open to question and rejection

Etymology: The verb "delegitimise" is simply "de-" attached to "legitimise", and the prefix is the more interesting half of the story. "De-" came into English from Latin "dē", a preposition meaning "down from" or "away from", and it reached English through Latin's own prefix uses, so it carries the sense of removing or reversing something rather than building it up. "Legitimise" itself is formed from "legitimate", which goes back to the Latin "legitimus", meaning "lawful" or "in accordance with the law", a word built on "lex", the law. Put together, the two parts give a verb meaning to strip something of its lawful standing: to take away the recognition or authority that made it valid. The prefix works the same way in many other English pairs, such as "deforest" or "decentralise", so once you see the pattern, the meaning of "delegitimises" follows directly from its parts.

Synonyms: discredit, delegitimize, undermine, invalidate, disempower

Antonyms: legitimise, legitimize, validate, authorise, legitimate