illicitly

C2+ Topic:Law & Government

US /ɪˈlɪsɪtli/ UK /ɪˈlɪsɪtli/ See IPA manual

adv

Meanings

1

adv
in a manner forbidden by law, rule, or custom

The goods had been imported illicitly to avoid duties.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a manner forbidden by... illegally unlawfully clandestinely covertly

Opposites

licitlylegally lawfully openly

Word family

Related forms illicit licit license

Etymology

From illicit + -ly, from Latin illicitus ('not allowed'), from in- ('not') + licere ('to be permitted').

illicitus Latin licere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government Word Formation & Derivatives

# illicitly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** ɪˈlɪsɪtli
**IPA (UK):** ɪˈlɪsɪtli

## Meanings
1. in a manner forbidden by law, rule, or custom

## Examples
- The goods had been imported illicitly to avoid duties.

## Synonyms
- illegally
- unlawfully
- clandestinely
- covertly

## Antonyms
- licitly
- legally
- lawfully
- openly

## Related Forms
- illicit
- licit
- license

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: illicitus
- Root: licere

## Etymology
From illicit + -ly, from Latin illicitus ('not allowed'), from in- ('not') + licere ('to be permitted').

## AI Etymology
Illicitly comes from illicit + -ly, from Latin illicitus ('not allowed'), from in- ('not') + licere ('to be permitted'). The historical trail runs through Latin illicitus and Latin licere. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means in a manner forbidden by law, rule, or custom. Related forms include illicit, licit, license.

## Topics
- Law & Government
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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illicitly

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