̈ɪlɔ: n. 1 a a
rule enacted or
customary in a
community and recognized as enjoining or prohibiting
certain actions and enforced by
the imposition of penalties. b a
body of
such rules (the law of the
land; forbidden
under Scots law). 2 the controlling
influence of laws; a
state of
respect for laws (law and order). 3 laws collectively as a
social system or
subject of
study (was
reading law). 4 (with defining word)
any of the
specific branches or applications of law (commercial law; law of contract). 5
binding force or
effect (their
word is law). 6 (prec. by the) a the
legal profession. b colloq. the
police. 7 the
statute and
common law (opp. EQUITY). 8 (in pl.)
jurisprudence. 9 a the
judicial remedy; litigation. b the lawcourts as
providing this (go to law). 10 a rule of
action or
procedure, e.g. in a game, social
context,
form of art, etc. 11 a regularity in
natural occurrences,
esp. as formulated or propounded in
particular instances (the laws of
nature; the law of
gravity; Parkinson's law). 12 a
divine commandments as expressed in the
Bible or
other sources. b (Law of Moses) the precepts of the
Pentateuch. øat (or in) law
according to the laws. be a law
unto oneself do
what one feels is
right;
disregard custom. go to law
take legal action;
make use of the lawcourts. law-abiding
obedient to the laws. law-abidingness
obedience to the laws. law
agent (in Scotland) a
solicitor. law
centre Brit. an
independent publicly-funded
advisory service on legal matters. Law
Lord a
member of the
House of Lords qualified to
perform its legal
work. law of diminishing returns see
DIMINISH. law of nature = natural law. laws of
war the limitations on belligerents' action recognized by civilized nations. law
term a
period appointed for the
sitting of lawcourts. lay down the law be
dogmatic or
authoritarian. take the law
into one's
own hands
redress a
grievance by one's own
means, esp. by force. [OE lagu f. ON lag
something 'laid down' or fixed, rel. to LAY(1)]
