law Hear it!

law Definition

law (lô)

noun

    1. all the rules of conduct established and enforced by the authority, legislation, or custom of a given community, state, or other group
    2. any one of such rules
  2. the condition existing when obedience to such rules is general to establish law and order
  3. the branch of knowledge dealing with such rules; jurisprudence
  4. the system of courts in which such rules are referred to in defending one's rights, securing justice, etc. to resort to law to settle a matter
  5. all such rules having to do with a particular sphere of human activity business law
  6. common law, as distinguished from equity
  7. the profession of lawyers, judges, etc.: often with the
    1. a sequence of events in nature or in human activities that has been observed to occur with unvarying uniformity under the same conditions
    2. the formulation in words of such a sequence the law of gravitation, the law of diminishing returns
  9. any rule or principle expected to be observed the laws of health, a law of grammar
  10. inherent tendency; instinct the law of self-preservation
  11. Eccles.
    1. a divine commandment
    2. all divine commandments collectively
  12. Math., Logic, etc. a general principle to which all applicable cases must conform the laws of exponents
  13. Sports, Brit. an allowance in distance or time as in a race; handicap

Etymology: ME lawe < OE lagu < Anglo-Norm *lagu, akin to ON lǫg, pl. of lag, something laid down or settled < IE base *legh-, to lie down > lie

intransitive verb, transitive verb

Informal, Dialectal to take legal action (against)

law Idioms

go to law

to take a problem or dispute to a law court for settlement

lay down the law

  1. to give explicit orders in an authoritative manner
  2. to give a scolding (to)

read law

to study to become a lawyer

the Law

  1. the Mosaic law, or the part of the Jewish Scriptures containing it; specif., the Pentateuch
  2. ☆ Informal a policeman or the police

law Synonyms

law

n.

  1. The judicial system

    judicial procedure, judicature, legal process, the authorities, the legal authorities, the police, writ, writ of habeas corpus, due process, precept, summons, notice, warrant, bench warrant, search warrant, warrant of arrest, subpoena, garnishment, They*; see also authority 3, government 1, 2, legality.

  2. Bodies of the law

    code, constitution, organic act, criminal law, statute law, civil law, law of the press, maritime law, martial law, military law, private law, public law, commercial law, probate law, substantive law, statutory law, chancery, statutes, civil code, ordinances, precepts, equity, cases, archives, common law, canon law, decisions, unwritten law, natural law.

  3. An enactment

    statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, edict, decree, order, judicial decision, ruling, injunction, summons, act, charge, prescription, canon, caveat, enactment, requirement, demand, divestiture, rescript, commandment, mandate, dictate, precept, instruction, behest, bidding, legislation, bill, bylaw; see also command 1, indictment 2, warrant, writ.

  4. A principle

    foundation, fundamental, origin, source, ultimate cause, truth, truism, axiom, maxim, tenet, doctrine, ground, base, reason, rule, rule of action, theorem, guide, precept, usage, postulate, proposition, generalization, proposal, assumption, hard and fast rule; see also basis 1.

  5. The study of law, sense 1

    jurisprudence, legal precedent, legal science, equity, legal practice.

  6. Officers appointed to enforce the law

    district attorney, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, constable, state police, city police, lawman, the man*, cops*, pigs*; see also judge 1, lawyer, police, policeman.

  7. The Bible

    Word, Old and New Testaments, the Book, Gospel, Scripture, Revelation; see also Bible 2. See syn. study at theory.

law, in its specific application, implies prescription and enforcement by a ruling authority the law of the land; a rule may not be authoritatively enforced, but it is generally observed in the interests of order, uniformity, etc. the rules of golf; regulation refers to a rule of a group or organization, enforced by authority military regulations; a statute is a law enacted by a legislative body; an ordinance is a local, generally municipal, law; a canon is, in its original meaning, a law of a church, but the term is also used of any established rule or principle regarded as true or as a standard to judge by usage the canons of good taste

go to law*

take legal action, take to court, prosecute; see sue.

lay down the law*

establish rules, order, prohibit; see command 1.

read law

prepare for a career as lawyer, study law, practice law, attend law school.

law Law Definition

n

  1. The complete body of statutes, rules, enforced customs and norms, and court decisions governing the relations of individuals and corporate entities to one another and to the state.
  2. The subset of such statutes and other rules and materials dealing with a particular subject matter.
  3. The system by which such statutes and rules are administered.
  4. The profession of interpreting such statutes and rules.
  5. A bill that becomes effective after enactment by the legislature and signature (or failure to veto) by the executive.

law Telecom Definition

A statement of scientific fact, phenomena, or relationships that occur with unvarying uniformity under given conditions. See also theory.

law Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • enforce: Although hunting great apes for meat is illegal in many countries, enforcing the law is not easy, especially during times of conflict.
  • break: My ' crime ' was to refuse to break the law by rigging Nigeria's Independence elections.
  • obey: All Kindred, even those of Caledonia, are welcome to attend, but should be mindful to obey the laws of Eboracum.

Converse of subject

  • govern: General The Agreement is governed by the laws of the United Kingdom.
  • permit: This provision shall only operate to the extent permitted by law.
  • prohibit: They have no choice: any reduction in rights would be prohibited by European law.
  • oblige: Most business will generate waste and are obliged by law to ensure care in the transport, handling and recovery of this waste.

Adjective modifier

  • applicable: Access to and use of the Site is subject to the following terms and conditions and all applicable laws.
  • international: I will not support any UK military action which has not been approved by the United Nations under international law.
  • criminal: The criminal law provides adequate safeguards against violence, and there is power to deport those convicted of offenses.
  • English: Under English law most homes are owned under joint tenancy agreements, which means the property is owned by both partners.
  • common: Searches and Enquiries: As a matter of common law, the seller of property has only a limited duty of disclosure.

Modifies a noun

  • enforcement: They believe someone is a law enforcement agency on the strength of a printed letterhead.
  • firm: Ruth Boardman is a partner at law firm Bird & Bird.

Noun used with modifier

  • copyright: The latter may be dealt with under normal copyright laws.
  • employment: Featured sites about Employment Laws: Ananova - 200,000 in employment laws protest.. .
  • licensing: There is nothing in the licensing laws to prevent alcohol being given, free of charge, to people on charity premises.
  • immigration: A fact sheet explaining the relevant criminal and immigration law is also available.

Preposition: of

  • physics: As Kunstler points out, human innovation is constrained by the laws of physics.
  • physic: A foot or two away, the little insect suddenly defies the laws of physics and stops dead in the swift water.