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Vinony

illicit

adjective

  1. against the law, rules, or custom
L337487 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪˈlɪsɪt/

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.

  1. Not approved by law, but not invalid.

    “The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid.”

    “Such migrants may violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do then they are trespassers, not criminals.”

  2. Breaking social norms.

    “I only can properly enjoy carol services if I am having an illicit affair with someone in the congregation.”

  3. Unlawful.

    “Ayşe Erkoç learned long ago that the secret of doing anything illicit in Istanbul is to do it in full public gaze in the clear light of day. No one ever questions the legitimacy of the blatant.”

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.

  1. A banned or unlawful item.

    “A large number of studies, however, have reported that it is rare for the user of 'hard' drugs not to have initiated cannabis use prior to the other illicits.”