- Main Entry:
- 1law
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈlȯ\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lǫg law; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a (1): a binding custom or practice of a community : a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority (2): the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules (3): common law b (1): the control brought about by the existence or enforcement of such law (2): the action of laws considered as a means of redressing wrongs; also : litigation (3): the agency of or an agent of established law c: a rule or order that it is advisable or obligatory to observe d: something compatible with or enforceable by established law e: control, authority2 aoften capitalized : the revelation of the will of God set forth in the Old Testament bcapitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures : pentateuch, torah — see bible table3: a rule of construction or procedure <the laws of poetry>4: the whole body of laws relating to one subject5 a: the legal profession b: law as a department of knowledge : jurisprudence c: legal knowledge6 a: a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions b: a general relation proved or assumed to hold between mathematical or logical expressions
—
at law : under or within the provisions of the law <enforceable at law>
synonyms law,
rule,
regulation,
precept,
statute,
ordinance,
canon mean a principle governing action or procedure.
law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority
<obey the law>.
rule applies to more restricted or specific situations
<the rules of the game>.
regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system
<regulations affecting nuclear power plants>.
precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching
<the precepts of effective writing>.
statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body
<a statute requiring the use of seat belts>.
ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality
<a city ordinance>.
canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide
<the canons of good taste>.
synonyms see in addition hypothesis
