the collection of rules imposed by authority
"civilization presupposes respect for the law"
"the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity
"there is a law against kidnapping"
a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
"The judge reminded the jury that justice is not merely about following statutes, but upholding a higher law written into our very nature."
a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
"the laws of thermodynamics"
the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
"During our debate club meeting, we spent the entire session analyzing how legal theory influences judicial reasoning."
the learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system
"he studied law at Yale"
the force of policemen and officers
"the law came looking for him"
The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities.
"The ancient druids built a low law on the hilltop to mark the sacred boundary of their forest temple."
The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
A tumulus of stones.
In plain English: A law is a rule that everyone must follow to keep society safe and fair.
"The new law will make it illegal to drive without a seatbelt."
Usage: Use "law" to refer to a system of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Do not use it to describe a mound of stones, which is correctly called a cairn or tumulus.
To work as a lawyer; to practice law.
"After graduating from law school, she decided to open her own firm and start practicing law in Chicago."
In plain English: To law something means to make it official by creating rules that everyone must follow.
"She decided to law after graduating from university."
Usage: As a verb, "law" is an archaic or poetic term meaning to practice as a lawyer and should be avoided in modern conversation where the phrase "practice law" is standard. Using it today may make your speech sound intentionally old-fashioned or incorrect unless you are quoting historical texts.
An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.
"Lawks, I didn't see you standing there!"
A patronymic surname, from given names.
"The rabbi explained that according to Jewish law, the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday."
A topographic surname, from Old English, perhaps originally meaning someone who lives near a burial mound.
The Torah.
The word law comes from Old Norse lǫg, which literally meant "things laid down or firmly established." It entered English through Middle English and originally referred to rules that were set in place like layers of ground.