Illicitness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Illicit \Il*lic"it\, a. [L. illicitus; pref. il- not + licitus,
     p. p. of licere to be allowed or permitted: cf. F. illicite.
     See {In-} not, and {License}.]
     Not permitted or allowed; prohibited; unlawful; as, illicit
     trade; illicit intercourse; illicit pleasure.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           One illicit . . . transaction always leads to another.
                                                    --Burke.
     -- {Il*lic"it*ly}, adv. -- {Il*lic"it*ness}, n.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  illicitness
       n : the quality of not conforming strictly to law [ant: {licitness}]