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Full Definition of LAW

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, AUTHORITY
2
a often capitalized : the revelation of the will of God set forth in the Old Testament
b capitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures : PENTATEUCH, TORAH see BIBLE TABLE
3
: a rule of construction or procedure <the laws of poetry>
4
: the whole body of laws relating to one subject
5
a : the legal profession
b : law as a department of knowledge : JURISPRUDENCE
c : legal knowledge
6
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>

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Examples of LAW

1. The courts exist to uphold, interpret, and apply the law.

2. a lawyer who specializes in criminal law

3. In our civics class we learned how a bill becomes a law.
4. She has proposed a new law to protect people from being evicted unfairly.
5. Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment.
6. The bill will become law at the beginning of the year.
7. He's been in and out of trouble with the law for the last 10 years.
Origin of LAW

Middle English, from Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse log law;
akin to Old English licgan to lie more at LIE
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to LAW

Synonyms
act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute
[+]more

Synonym Discussion of LAW

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>. PRECEPTcommonly 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>.
Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent,larceny, malfeasance, modus

operandi
Rhymes with LAW

aw, awe, blaw, braw, ca, caw, chaw, claw, craw, daw, draw,flaw, gnaw, haw, jaw, la, maw,
pa, paw, pshaw, Ra, rah,raw, saw, shah, shaw, slaw, spa, squaw, straw, tau, taw,thaw, yaw

law

verb
Definition of LAW

intransitive verb
: LITIGATE
transitive verb
chiefly dialect : to sue or prosecute at law
First Known Use of LAW

circa 1550
Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent,larceny, malfeasance, modus

operandi

Law
biographical name \l \
Definition of LAW

(Andrew) Bon*ar 18581923 British (Canad.-born) statesman

Law
biographical name
Definition of LAW

Edward 17501818 1st Baron El*len*bor*ough Eng. jurist

Law
biographical name
Definition of LAW

John 16711729 Scot. financier & speculator

Law

biographical name
Definition of LAW

William 16861761 Eng. writer

law
noun \l \ (Medical Dictionary)
Medical Definition of LAW

: a statement of order or relation holding for certain phenomena that so far as is known is
invariable under the given conditions

law
noun

(Concise Encyclopedia)

Discipline and profession concerned with the customs, practices, and rules of conduct that
are recognized as binding by the community. Enforcement of the body of rules is through a
controlling authority, such as a group of elders, a regent, a court, or a judiciary.
Comparative law is the study of the differences, similarities, and interrelationships of
different systems of law. Important areas in the study and practice of law
include ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, ANTITRUST LAW, BUSINESS LAW, constitutional law, CRIMINAL LAW,
environmental law, family law, health law, immigration law, intellectual property
law,INTERNATIONAL LAW, LABOUR LAW, MARITIME LAW, PROCEDURAL LAW, property law, public
interest law, tax law, TRUSTs and estates, and TORTs. See also ANGLO-SAXON LAW; CANON

GERMANIC LAW; INDIAN LAW; Islamic law

(SHARI'AH); ISRAELI LAW; JAPANESE LAW; JURISPRUDENCE; MILITARY LAW; ROMAN LAW; SCOTTISH
LAW; SOVIET LAW.
LAW; CIVIL LAW;COMMON LAW; EQUITY;

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