Illicitness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The condition of engaging in behavior that is not allowed under legal statutes or societal norms, indicating acts that are both unlawful and morally questionable
2. It pertains to the quality of actions that violate legal codes and ethical principles, representing conduct that is forbidden and often condemned
3. The state of engaging in activities deemed illegal and unethical, signifying behaviors that are prohibited and often met with disapproval

Etymology: "Illicitness" is a plain compound: the adjective "illicit" with the suffix "-ness," which English has attached to adjectives since Old English to turn a quality into a noun. The adjective "illicit" came into English from Latin "illicitus," meaning "not allowed," built from the negative prefix "in-" and "licitus," "permitted," the past participle of "licere," "to be allowed." So the noun names the condition of being unlawful or forbidden. The suffix does the real work here. "-ness" comes from Old English "-nes," which was itself linked to the noun "nes" in the sense of a quality or state, and it has been productive ever since, making nouns like "goodness," "darkness," and "illicitness" from almost any adjective. Its history runs continuously from Old English through Middle English "-nesse" to the modern form.

Synonyms: illegality, unlawfulness

Antonyms: legality, lawfulness