LE'GAL, adjective [Latin legalis, from lex, legis, law.] 1. According to law; in conformity with law; as a legal standard or test; a legal procedure. 2. Lawful; permitted by law; as a legal trade. Anything is legal which the laws do not forbid. 3. According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. 4. Pertaining to law; created by law. The exception must be confined to legal crimes. So we use the phrase, criminal law.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI