• | In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an
authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode
or order according to which an agent or a power acts. |
• | In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and
conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a
rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as
obligatory on the conscience or moral nature. |
• | The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it
is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old
Testament. |
• | An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing
and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other
organized community. |
• | Any edict, decree, order, ordinance, statute, resolution,
judicial, decision, usage, etc., or recognized, and enforced, by the
controlling authority. |
• | In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or
change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by
the will of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of
gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought;
the laws of cause and effect; law of self-preservation. |
• | In matematics: The rule according to which anything, as the
change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series,
proceeds; mode or order of sequence. |
• | In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of
procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim;
or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of
whist. |
• | Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject,
or emanating from one source; -- including usually the writings
pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine
law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law. |
• | Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity;
applied justice. |
• | Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation;
as, to go law. |
• | An oath, as in the presence of a court. |
• | Same as Lawe, v. t. |
• | An exclamation of mild surprise. |