Law sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary

Law sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1903, rev. 2024. Law sb.1 Forms: 1 laʓu (oblique cases laʓe, nom. and acc. pl. laʓa, once laʓan; in comb. lah-), 2 laȝwe, laȝa, 2–5 laȝe, 3 Layamon læȝe, læwe, 3 laha, 3–5 lagh(e, 3–7 lau(e, lawe, Sc. lauwe, 4 lach(t, laght, (lake), lauh, 4, 6 Sc. la, lawch, 5 Sc. laucht, laue, laugh, 5–9 Sc. lauch, 5– law. [Late OE. (c. 1000) laʓu str. fem. (pl. laʓa), a. prehistoric ON. *lagu (:—OIcel. lǫg), pl. of lag neut.; in sing. the word meant in Icel. ‘something laid or fixed’ (specific senses being, e.g., ‘layer, stratum,’ ‘share in an undertaking,’ ‘partnership,’ ‘fixed or market price,’ ‘set tune,’ etc.); the pl. had the collective sense ‘law,’ and in ONorw. its form became (as in OE.) a fem. sing.; cf. OSw. lagh neut. sing. and pl., law, Sw. lag, pl. lagar, Da. lov. The ON. lag corresponds to OS. -lag neut. (in the compounds aldar-lagu pl. destined length of life, or-lag fate, war):—OTeut. *lagom, f. root *lag-:—OAryan *logh- (: *legh-): see LAY, LIE vbs. The Lat. lēg-, lēx is not now generally believed to be cognate (being referred to the root *leg- of legĕre to gather, read, λέγειν to gather, say); but in many other langs. the word for ‘law’ is derived from roots meaning ‘to place’; cf., e.g., Eng. DOOM, Gr. θέμις, θεσμός, L. statutum, G. gesetz. The native word in OE. was ǽ: see Æ.

1   As law is the usual Eng. rendering of L. lex, and to some extent of L. jus, and of Gr. νόμος, its development of senses has been in some degree affected by the uses of these words.]

2   I.  A rule of conduct imposed by authority.

3   * Human law.

4   1.  The body of rules, whether proceeding from formal enactment or from custom, which a particular state or community recognizes as binding on its members or subjects. (In this sense usually the law.) † Also, in early use, a code or system of rules of this kind.

5   [As the word was in Scandinavian a plural, though adopted in OE. as a sing., this collective sense is etymologically prior to that of ‘specific enactment’ (sense 2).]

6 a. 1000.  Laws of Ethelred, VI. c. 37 (Schmid). ʓif he hine laðian wille … do ðæt be ðam deopestan aðe … on Engla laʓe, and on Dena laʓe, be ðam ðe heora laʓu si.

7 11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1064 (Laud MS.). He niwade ðær Cnutes laʓe.

8 c. 1205.  Lay., 6305. Þa makede heo ane læȝe, and læide ȝeon þat leode.

9 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19270. Þe wick þai hald þe lau for drede.

10 c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., IV. vii. 672. [He] governyd wytht his lauch the land.

11 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 247. All offices had by dower … to be confiscat and spent to the use and custome of the law.

12 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 178. The Venetian Law Cannot impugne you as you do proceed.

13 1662.  Bk. Comm. Prayer, Pref. Injoyned by the Lawe of the Land.

14 1726.  Swift, Gulliver, IV. v. But he was at a loss how it should come to pass, that the law, which was intended for every man’s preservation, should be any man’s ruin.

15 1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 386. Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.

16 1785.  Paley, Mor. Philos., Wks. 1825, IV. 184. The law of England constrains no man to become his own accuser.

17 1833.  Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, i. 10. Had we not our combinations, when combination was against the law?

18 1896.  Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 690/1. This court has no jurisdiction over the property in America; it is governed by the law of that country.

19   b.  Often viewed, with more or less of personification, as an agent uttering or enforcing the rules of which it consists.

20 1513.  More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 774. Then the lawe maketh me his garden.

21 1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 715. This being done, let the Law goe whistle.

22 1628.  Sir J. Eliot, Speech Parl., in Forster, Life, II. 124. The law designs to every man his own.

23 1728.  Young, Love Fame, I. (1757), 80. When the Law shews her teeth, but dares not bite.

24 1794.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 228. The law is wiser than cabal or interest.

25 1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, li. ‘If the law supposes that,’ said Mr. Bumble,… ‘the law is a ass—a idiot.’

26   c.  In proverbs and proverbial phrases. The law of the Medes and Persians, often used (with allusion to Dan. vi. 12) as the type of something unalterable.

27 1382.  Wyclif, Dan. vi. 15. The lawe of Medis and Persis.

28 1564.  trans. P. Martyr’s Comm. Judges, xi. 189 b. It is an olde Prouerbe … Lawe and Country. For every region hath certaine customes of their owne, which cannot easelye be chaunged.

29 1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxvi. Aweel, aweel, Maggie, ilka land has its ain lauch.

30 1853.  ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, I. ii. His word is no longer the law of the Medes and Persians, as it was at home.

31 1884.  Rider Haggard, Dawn, xxxv. Once given, like the law of the Medes and Persians, it altereth not.

32   † d.  What the law awards; what is due according to law. Obs.

33 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VIII. ii. 275. Wel said the King Melyodas, and therfor shal ye haue the lawe. And soo she was dampned … to be brent.

34 1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. iii. 214. This is the Law, and this Duke Humfreyes doome.

35   e.  To wage one’s law, Wager of law: see WAGE v., WAGER sb.

36   2.  One of the individual rules that constitute the ‘law’ (sense 1) of a state or polity. In early use only pl. The plural has often a collective sense (after L. jura, leges) approaching sense 1.

37 a. 1023.  Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 275. Ræde ʓe nu forð laʓan gode fyrðor.

38 11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1086 (Laud MS.). He læʓde laʓa … ðæt swa hwa swa sloʓe heort oððe hinde ðæt hine man sceolde blendian.

39 c. 1205.  Lay., 2078. And he heom onleide þat weoren lawen gode.

40 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9642. William bastard … luþer lawes made ynou.

41 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12115. Of your laues i am vttan For erthli fader haf i nan.

42 c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 904. Tvo ȝere he sett þat land His lawes made he cri.

43 c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 63. To swilk lauis & to swilk maneris schuld ilk iuge obey.

44 c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., ii. (1885), 112. Therfore it is that þe lawes seyn, quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.

45 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xiv. 28. That all the lawis ar not sett by ane bene.

46 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 7 b. He said that the lawes of the realme were in his head.

47 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 382 b. Such thinges as were decreed in the counsel in fourmer yeares, ought not to have the force of a law.

48 1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 334. His faults lye open to the Lawes.

49 1637.  Decree Star Chamb., § 3, in Milton’s Areop. (Arb.), 10. That all Bookes concerning the common Lawes of this Realme shall be printed by the especiall allowance of the Lords chiefe Justices.

50 c. 1670.  Hobbes, Dial. Com. Laws (1677), 32. A Law is the Command of him, or them that have the Soveraign Power.

51 1683.  Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 21. Other duties by any law or statute due to vs.

52 1690.  Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 61. The French peasantry are a slavish, cowardly people, because the laws of their country has made them slaves.

53 a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1734), II. 189. By the Portian Law, no Citizen could be put to Death for any Crime whatsoever.

54 1735–8.  Bolingbroke, On Parties, 104. The Laws of the Land are known.

55 1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., I. iii. And other idle Laws and Un-laws.

56 1856.  Knight, Pop. Hist. Eng., I. xxiv. 364. The Saxon King and Confessor, for whose equal laws the people had been clamouring for two centuries.

57   b.  Proverbs.

58 c. 1470.  Harding, Chron. LXXXVI. v. Wronge lawes maketh shorte gouernaunce.

59 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 169. Tholde spoken proverbs, here toke place: New Lordes, new lawes.

60 1578.  Timme, Caluine on Gen., 70. According to the common Proverb ‘Of evil manners spring good laws.’

61 1874.  T. Hardy, Madding Crowd, viii. ‘New lords new laws,’ as the saying is.

62   3.  In generalized sense.

63   a.  Laws regarded as obeyed or enforced; controlling influence of laws; the condition of society characterized by the observance of the laws. Often in phrase law and order. Proverb: Necessity has (or knows) no law.

64 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 109. Ȝif þe biscop bið ȝemeles, and þet folc butan steore eft butan laȝe.

65 c. 1250.  Ten Abuses, in O. E. Misc., 184. Lond wið-ute laȝe [v.r. lawe].

66 a. 1327.  Pol. Songs (Camden), 150. Thus wil walketh in londe, and lawe is for-lore.

67 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 122. The Kyng and the comune and kynde with the thridde Shope lawe and lewte eche man to knowe his owne.

68 a. 1555.  Ridley, Lament. Ch. (1566), D iv. The latter reason … includeth a necessitie which, after the common sayinge, hathe no lawe.

69 1601.  ? Marston, Pasquil & Kath., I. 68. Poore and neede hath no law.

70 1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlvi. 268. Necessity, which hath no law, compelled us thereunto.

71 1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xvii. Her father could not do otherwise. Necessity has no law.

72 1881.  in T. W. Reid, Life W. E. Forster (1888), II. viii. 371. To support the Lord-Lieutenant … in maintaining law and order in this country [Ireland].

73   b.  (a) Laws in general, regarded as a class or species of human institutions. Court of law: see COURT sb.1 11. (b) That department of knowledge or study of which laws are the subject-matter; jurisprudence.

74 14[?].  Sir Beues, 3573 (MS. N.). Sir King, þat may not ben don bi lawe.

75 c. 1430.  Hymns Virg., 61. Quod resoun, ‘in age of .xx. ȝeer, Goo to oxenford, or lerne lawe.’

76 1611.  Florio, Lecito, lawfull, good in law.

77 1635.  Sibbes, Soul’s Confl., xvii. (1833), 136. Law being the joint reason and consent of many men for the public good hath a use for guidance of all action that fall under the same.

78 1644.  Milton, Educ., 5. After this, they are to dive into the grounds of law, and legall justice.

79 1680.  Dryden, Ovid’s Epist., Pref. He was design’d to the Study of the Law.

80 1734.  Swift, Drapier’s Lett., vii. Wks. 1761, III. 140. In all free nations I take the proper definition of law to be, The will of the majority of those who have the property in land.

81 1809–10.  Coleridge, Friend (1865), 53. Juries do not sit in a court of conscience, but of law.

82 1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 114. A person having an estate … by the operation of some principle of law.

83 1821.  J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. (1871), 113. The pound of 15 ounces … has never been recognised in England by law.

84 1841–4.  Emerson, Ess., Experience, Wks. (Bohn), I. 188. The intellect … judges law as well as fact.

85 1842.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., VI. xxiii. 359. He consults men learned in the law.

86 1882.  Hinsdale, Garfield & Educ., II. 295. If you become a lawyer, you must remember that the science of law is not fixed like geometry, but is a growth which keeps pace with the progress of society.

87 1891.  Law Times, XCII. 99/2. This natural sequence hardened first into custom and then into law.

88   c.  † In law (of wedlock): lawfully married. Also in the combinations BROTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER-IN-LAW, etc., for which see those words; and in † law’s father, † father in the law, rarely used for ‘father-in-law’; so also † mother of law.

89   [Cf. 16th c. F. pere en loi de mariage (Godef.).]

90 c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 21. Þis is tenne hare song þat beon ilahe of wedlac.

91 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2764. To wife in laȝe he hire nam.

92 1538.  Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 154. Ionat Barbour, his moder of law.

93 1552.  Latimer, Serm. 1st Sund. Epiph. (1584), 301 b. The house where Jesus was, with his mother, and Joseph his Father in the lawe.

94 1593.  Q. Eliz., Boeth., I. pr. iv. 12. My holy lawes fathr Symmacus,… defendes vs from all suspicion of this cryme.

95 [1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., IV. i. 24. Their Aunt I am in law, in loue their Mother. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., IV. v. 60. And now by Law, as well as reuerent age, I may intitle thee my louing Father.]

96   d.  In more comprehensive sense: Rules or injunctions that must be obeyed. To give (the) law (to): to exercise undisputed sway; to impose one’s will † upon (another). † To have (the) law to do something: to be commanded. † Law will I: arbitrary rule, making one’s own will law.

97 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 779. Ne lið hit nawt to þe to leggen lahe upon me.

98 a. 1340.  Cursor M., 5729 (Fairf.). Moyses had þe lagh to kepe to his eldefadere shepe þat was þe prest of madian.

99 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paulus), 202. To thre knychttis þane wes he tawcht, þat hym to sla son has lacht.

100 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 306. Who shal yeue a louere any lawe?

101 a. 1564.  Becon, Catech., Wks. 1564, I. 495. To convince them, not with fyre & fagot … or with lawe will I.

102 1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 38. We have seen the Portugals, by reason of their sea forces … to have given the law to those famous princes.

103 1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 63. He hoped shortly to give law to their irregular humours.

104 1656.  B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age (1659), 142. Every body stood mute, at the expectation of a success, which was to give the Law.

105 1712.  Swift, Proposal for correct. Eng. Tongue, Miscell. (1727), I. 327. A Succession of affected Phrases, and new conceited Words … borrowed … from those, who, under the Character of Men of Wit and Pleasure, pretend to give the Law.

106 1726–31.  Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng. (1743), II. 110. The Gantois seeing their neighbours so powerful and able to give them law.

107 1775.  Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 79. No man ever could give law to language.

108 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 397. In literature she gave law to the world.

109 1852.  Thackeray, B. Lyndon, i. For a time … Mr. Barry gave he law at Castle Brady.

110 1866.  Conington, Æneid, V. 133. The wind gives law, your toil is vain.

111   predicatively.  1842.  Tennyson, Dora, 96. You knew my word was law, and yet you dared To slight it.

112 1853.  ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, I. ii. Like a good and dutiful son, however, his father’s wishes were law.

113   4.  With defining word, indicating some one of the branches into which law, as an object of study or exposition, may be divided, according to the matter with which it is concerned, as commercial, ecclesiastical, etc., law, the law of banking, of evidence, etc.; or according to the source from which it is derived, as statute law, customary law, case-law (see CASE sb.1), etc. (The) Canon Law: see CANON1 1 b. See also CIVIL LAW, COMMON LAW. Martial law: see MARTIAL.

114   b.  Both laws [after med.L. (doctor, etc.) utriusque juris]: in mediæval use referring to the Civil and the Canon Law; in modern Scotland, the Roman Civil Law and the municipal law of the country.

115 1577–87.  Holinshed, Hist. Scot., 284/1. Peter Mallart doctor of both lawes.

116 1808.  Scott, Mem., in Lockhart, i. We attended the regular classes of both laws in the University of Edinburgh.

117   c.  International law, the law of nations, under which nations are regarded as individual members of a common polity, bound by a common rule of agreement or custom; opposed to municipal law, the rules binding in local jurisdictions (see MUNICIPAL).

118   The term law of nations (L. jus gentium) meant in Roman use the rules common to the law of all nations (often coupled with law of nature in sense 9 c; so in Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 80 and Troil., II. ii. 184). The transition to the mod. sense was facilitated by the appeal to ‘the law of nations’ in relation to such matters as the treatment of ambassadors or the obligation to observe treaties.

119 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 229. He was an officer of armes (to whom credite, by the lawe of all nacions, ought to be geven).

120 1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. x. § 12. There is a third kind of law which touches all such several bodies politic, so far forth as one of them hath public commerce with another. And this third is the Law of Nations.

121 c. 1651.  Hobbes, Rhet. (1681), 39. The Law or Custom of Nations.

122 1723.  Pres. State Russia, II. 283. Beaten, and contrary to the Law of Nations, taken into Custody.

123 1769.  Blackstone, Comm., IV. 66. The law of nations is a system of rules … established by universal consent among the civilized inhabitants of the world.

124 1870.  Pall Mall Gaz., 24 Dec., 10. Between municipal law … and international law, there is only a qualified and even a somewhat remote analogy.

125 1896.  Lord Russell of Killowen, in Law Quart. Rev., XII. 313. The aggregate of the rules to which nations have agreed to conform in their conduct towards one another are properly to be designated ‘International Law.’ Ibid., 317. International Law, as such, includes only so much of the law of morals or of right reason or of natural law (whatever these phrases may cover) as nations have agreed to regard as International Law.

126 1899.  Justice Gray, in U.S. Rep., clxxv. 700. International law is part of our law, and must be ascertained and administered by the courts of justice of appropriate jurisdiction, as often as questions of right depending upon it are duly presented for their determination.

127   5.  In English technical use applied in a restricted sense to the Statute and Common Law, in contradistinction to EQUITY.

128 1591.  Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 68. Besides his Court of meere Law, he must … reserve to himselfe … a certaine soveraigne and preheminent Power, by which he may both supply the want, and correct the rigour of that Positive or written Law.

129 1745, 1765.  [see EQUITY 4].

130 1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 460. He would give law and equity, and not pronounce upon law and equity.

131 1852.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., lxii. Did you ever know English law, or equity either, plain and to the purpose?

132   6.  Applied predicatively to decisions or opinions on legal questions to denote that they are correct. Also good or bad law.

133 1593.  [see 1 d].

134 1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. Introd. 70. If it be found that the former decision is manifestly absurd or unjust, it is declared, not that such a sentence was bad law, but that it was not law.

135 179[?].  Wolcot (P. Pindar), Expost. Odes, vi. What’s sound at Hippocrene, the Poet’s Spa, Is not at Westminster sound law!

136 1891.  Ld. Coleridge in Law Times Rep., LXV. 580/1. We are unable to concur in these dicta, and speaking with all deference we think they are not law.

137   7.  (Usually the law.) The profession which is concerned with the exposition of the law, with pleading in the courts, and with the transaction of business requiring skilled knowledge of law; the profession of a lawyer. Orig. in man of law (now somewhat arch.), a lawyer; so † (a gentleman) toward the law.

138 c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5942. Men of laghe [er halden] … to travayle and to counsaile þam þat askes counsayle.

139 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 309. A Sergeant of the lawe, war and wys. Ibid., Man of Law’s Prol., Introd. 33. ‘Sir man of lawe’ quod he, ‘so have ye blis Tel us a tale anon.’

140 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. xxx. 8. Ther may no man of lagh help with no quantyce.

141 1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 128. Euery man should tel the same tale before the iudge that he wold tel to his man of law.

142 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 473. Leaving the practise of the law.

143 1563.  B. Googe, Eglogs (Arb.), 75. Lawe gyues the gayne, and Physycke fyls the Purse.

144 1566.  Acts & Constit. Scotl., To Rdr. ᛭ iij. Our Souerane Lady seing the Lawis … to be for the maist part unknawin, bot to the Iugeis, and men of Law.

145 1592.  Greene, Art Conny Catch., III. 14. They espied a Gentleman toward the lawe entring in … and a countrey Clyent going with him.

146 c. 1780.  Cowper, Jackdaw, v. The world, with all its motley rout, Church, army, physic, law.

147 Mod.  Three of his brothers are in the law.

148   b.  Legal knowledge; legal acquirements.

149 1630.  Bp. Bedell, in Ussher’s Lett. (1686), 454. This Protestation having neither Latin, nor Law, nor common Sence, doth declare the Skill of him that drew it.

150 1645.  Milton, Colast., Wks. 1851, IV. 348. These made the Champarty, hee contributed the Law, and both joynd in the Divinity.

151 1884.  Church, Bacon, iii. 63. Coke thoroughly disliked Bacon. He thought lightly of his law.

152   8.  The action of the courts of law, as a means of procuring redress of grievances or enforcing claims; judicial remedy. Frequent in phrases to go to († the) law, to have or take the law of or on (a person), † to call (a person) unto the Law, † to draw into laws. Hence occas. used = recourse to the courts, litigation. † The day of law: the day of trial.

153 c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 224. The crovss Capone … Was officiale … that the law leidis In caussis consistoriale.

154 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xiii. 79. Sum bydand the law layis land in wed.

155 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xii. 11. That she and her sonne shulde take ryght and lawe on them, accordyng to theyr desertis.

156 1526.  Tindale, 1 Cor. vi. 1. Howe dare one of you … goo to lawe vnder the wicked?

157 1535.  Coverdale, Prov. xxv. 8. Be not haistie to go to the lawe.

158 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 193. You beyng a pleader at law, Pray hir to let fall thaction at law now.

159 1565.  T. Randolph, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 198. The Daye of Lawe agaynste the iiii Bourgois men of thys towne is lyke to holde.

160 1573.  L. Lloid, Pilgr. Princes (1607), 133. Being striken and spurned by the same man, Socrates was counselled to call the same vnto the law before the Judges.

161 1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 623/1. Soe as it was not … possible to drawe him into lawes…. It is hard for everye tryfling dett … to be driven to lawe.

162 c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 47 (1810), 54. There was a long suit in law.

163 1677.  Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 24. For ten years there will be more Law than ever to clear up Titles.

164 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 122, ¶ 4. A Fellow famous for taking the Law of every Body.

165 1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 234. Dubosc, with whom he broke and went to law.

166 1780.  Newgate Cal., V. 27. Surely no man in his senses would deliberately embark in law.

167 1796.  Paine, Writ. (1895), III. 239. A sharper … may find a way … to cheat some other party, without that party being able, as the phrase is, to take the law of him.

168 1800.  Mar. Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent, Gloss. 24. ‘I’ll have the law of you, so I will!’—is the saying of an Englishman who expects justice.

169 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, I. v. ¶ 11. The hangers-on of the law.

170 1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, vi. 52. ‘There’s a hackney-coachman down stairs … vowing he’ll have the law of you.’ Ibid., vii. 61. ‘She was as bad as he,’ said Tinker. ‘She took the law of every one of her tradesmen.’

171 1891.  E. Kinglake, Australian at H., 35. The very name of ‘Law’ is a bogie that frightens a man out of his wits.

172   b.  transf. To take the law into one’s own hands: to redress one’s own grievance, or punish an offender, without obtaining judicial assistance. To have the law in one’s own hands: to possess the means of redress, to be master of the situation.

173 1573.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 3. The law was now in there own hands.

174   c.  Halifax law, Lidford law: the summary procedure of certain local tribunals that had or assumed the power of inflicting sentence of death on thieves; the rule proverbially ascribed to them was ‘hang first, try afterwards.’ † Stafford law: ? punningly for a thrashing. Cf. LYNCH LAW.

175 1565.  Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 356. But heere he thought … to call vs Theeues, and wicked Judges, and to charge vs with the Law of Lydford.

176 1589.  Hay any Work, A iij. Non would be so groshead as to gather that I threatned him with blowes, and to deale by Stafford law.

177 a. 1641.  Wentworth, Lett. to Ld. Mountmorris, in N. & Q., 5th Ser. IV. 16. Hallifaxe lawe hath ben executed in kinde, I am already hanged, and now wee cum to examine and consider of the evidence.

178 1710.  Brit. Apollo, II. No. 3. 5/2. First Hang and Draw, Then hear the cause by Lidford Law.

179   ** Divine law.

180   9.  The body of commandments that express the will of God with regard to the conduct of His intelligent creatures. Also (with a, the and pl.) a particular commandment.

181   a.  gen. So God’s (Christ’s law), the law of God.

182 a. 1023.  Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 158. Godes laʓe healdan.

183 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 55. Halde we godes laȝe.

184 c. 1205.  Lay., 14803. He … tahte þan folke godes læȝe.

185 c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 674, in O. E. Misc., 56. Seoþþe in alle londes hi eoden vor to prechen, and … godes lawe techen.

186 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2690. Ful wel þis lagh sal he yeme.

187 c. 1330.  Spec. Gy Warw., 38. A good man … Þat liuede al in godes lawe.

188 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 26. To þis ende shulden clerkes traveile … for love of Goddis lawe. Ibid. (1382), Rom. vii. 25. I my silf by resoun of the soule serue to the lawe of God.

189 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 289/2. Law of Godde.

190 c. 1485.  Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1857. Crystes servont and yower to be, & þe lave of hym ever to fulfyll.

191 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 246. To be observed by christen men, as … consonant to the law of God.

192 1683.  Tryon, Way to Health, xix. (1697), 419. The good and holy Fear of the Lord, and his Innocent Law.

193   b.  as communicated by express revelation, esp. in the Bible. Hence occas. the Scriptures themselves.

194 c. 1025.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 88. Si ʓeræd ætforan þam cuman seo godcunde laʓe.

195 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 81. In þisse worlde [sc. the age before Moses] nas na laʓe, ne na larþeu.

196 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter i. 2. Bot in lagh ofe lauerd his wille be ai, And his lagh thinke he night and dai.

197 1567.  Good & Godly Ball. (S.T.S.), 190. Goddis word and lawis the peple misknawis.

198 1611.  Bible, Ps. i. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord.

199 1719.  Watts, Ps. i. (Short Metre), 5. Who … makes the Law of God His Study and Delight.

200   c.  as implanted by nature in the human mind, or as capable of being demonstrated by reason. Formerly often the law of nature (now rarely, because of the frequency of that expression in sense 17), † law of kind, natural law, the law of reason, etc.

201   The expression law of nature (lex naturæ or naturalis, jus naturale) in Cicero, Seneca, and the Roman jurists, is ultimately derived from the φυσικὸν δίκαιον of Aristotle.

202 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 964. Hit is aȝein riht ant aȝein leaue of euch cundelich lahe.

203 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 28491 (Cott.). And haf i broken wit foly, Þe lagh o kynd thoru licheri. Ibid. (c. 1340), 1576 (Trin.). Þe lawe of soþenes ny of kynde Wolde þei no tyme fynde.

204 1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 272. But he the bestes wolde binde Only to lawes of nature.

205 c. 1470.  G. Ashby, Active Policy Prince, 695, Poems 34. If forgoten be al lawe positife, Remembre the noble lawe of nature.

206 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. Proem. The Athenyens the whiche lyued after the lawe of Kynde.

207 1513.  More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 774. The lawe of nature wylleth the mother to keepe the childe.

208 1531.  St. German, Doctor & Stud., I. ii. The lawe of nature … consydered generally … is referred to all creatures as well resonable as vnresonable … the lawe of nature specially consydered, whiche is also called the lawe of reason, parteyneth onely to creatures reasonable, that is man … As to the orderyng of the dedes of man, it is preferred before the lawe of god. And it is writen in the herte of euery man.

209 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 73 b. I shuld not do that whiche by the lawes of nature and reason I ought to do, which is to rendre kyndnes for kyndnes.

210 1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. viii. § 8. The Law of Reason or Human Nature. § 9. Laws of Reason.

211 1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 357. If the young Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike, I see no reason, in the Law of Nature, but I may snap at him.

212 a. 1614.  Donne, Βιαθανατος (1644), 34. That part of Gods Law which bindes alwayes, bound before it was written … and that is the Law of nature.

213 1692.  South, Serm. (1697), I. 482. The Law of Nature,… I take to be nothing else, but the mind of God, signified to a Rational agent by the bare discourse of his Reason.

214 1712.  Berkeley, Passive Obed., § 33. Self-preservation is … the very first and fundamental law of nature.

215 1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. Introd. § 2. 39. This will of his maker is called the law of nature.

216 1780.  Bentham, Princ. Legisl., Wks. 1843, I. 9. Instead of the phrase, Law of Nature, you have sometimes Law of Reason.

217 1878.  Gladstone, Prim. Homer, 109. Natural law was profoundly revered, while conventional law hardly yet existed.

218   10.  The system of moral and ceremonial precepts contained in the Pentateuch; also in a narrower sense applied to the ceremonial portion of the system considered separately. More explicitly, the law of Moses, the Mosaic or Jewish law, etc.

219 c. 1000.  Ælfric, O. T., in Grein, Ags. Prosa, I. 5. God him sette æ, þæt ys open laʓu, þam folce to steore.

220 c. 1200.  Ormin, 1961. Annd tatt wass ned tatt, ȝho wass þa Wiþþ Godess laȝhe weddedd.

221 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2500. I þe munt of Synai þer Moyses fatte þe lahe et ure lauerd.

222 c. 1250.  O. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 26. Þo dede he somoni alle þo wyse clerekes þet kuþe þe laghe.

223 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6451, heading (Gött.). Tell i sal of moyses law.

224 c. 1330.  Spec. Gy Warw., 358. At þe mount of Synay … þar god him ȝaf þe firste lawe.

225 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xxvi. (1495), 363. Alway in the Saterdaye preestes declaryd and expownyd the lawe to the peple.

226 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 1546. Iustis of iewry & iogis of the lawe.

227 c. 1585.  R. Browne, Answ. Cartwright, 54. They read in the Booke of the Lawe.

228 1611.  Bible, Rom. ii. 14. The Gentiles which haue not the Law, doe by nature the things contained in the Law: these hauing not the Law, are a Law vnto themselues.

229   b.  In expressed or implied opposition to the Gospel: The Mosaic dispensation; also, the system of Divine commands and of penalties imposed for disobedience contained in the Scriptures, considered apart from the offer of salvation by faith in Christ.

230 1382.  Wyclif, Gal. iii. 11. No man is justified in the lowe anentis God.

231 1529.  Frith, Pistle Chr. Rdr. (1829), 461. The law was given us, that we might know what to do and what to eschew.

232 1595.  Shaks., John, II. i. 180. The Canon of the Law is laide on him.

233 1758.  S. Hayward, Serm., i. 2. To guard the Galatians against a dependence on the law.

234 1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., Easter Sunday 20. No brighter … Than Reason’s or the Law’s pale beams.

235 1842.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., VI. i. 2. Vain were all the deeds of the Law.

236 1859.  J. Cumming, Ruth, vi. 109. By what he suffered I escape the law’s curse.

237   c.  The Pentateuch as distinguished from the other portions of the Old Testament Scriptures.

238 1382.  Wyclif, John viii. 5. Moses in the lawe comaundide vs for to stoone siche.

239 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 298 b. O very messyas, promysed in the lawe for mannes redempcyon.

240 1611.  Bible, 2 Macc. xv. 9. Comforting them out of the law, and the prophets.

241   † 11.  A ‘dispensation.’ The old law: the Mosaic dispensation, the ‘Old Covenant’; also, the books of the Old Testament. The new law: the Gospel dispensation.

242 c. 1000.  Ælfric’s Past. Ep., xl. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 380. Nu is seo ealde laʓu ʓeendod æfter Cristes to-cyme.

243 a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 235. Þas fif cheðen beoð fif laȝan for þan þe god is þurh þesen ȝecnowe.

244 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues (1888), 7. Aiðer ðurh ðare ealde laȝwe and iec ðurh ðare niewe.

245 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 3. Aduent bitocneð þre time, on þe was bi-fore þe old laȝe, þe oðer was on þe holde laȝe, and þe þridde was on þe newe laȝe.

246 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 58. Uorþi was ihoten a Godes half iðen olde lawe þæt put were euer iwrien.

247 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21285. Tuin axils er tuin laghs. Ibid., 21644. Þe licknes o þis tre sa tru, In þe ald lagh was be-for þe neu.

248 a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, cxviii. 99. I vndirstode bettire þan þe doctors of þe alde laghe.

249 c. 1450.  Compendious olde treat. (Arb.), 172. As kinge Antioche came in the ende wellnygh of ye olde lawe, and brent the bokes of gods lawe … So now Antichrist … brenneth nowe nygh thende of ye new lawe theuangely of Christe.

250 1542.  Becon, Potation for Lent, Wks. 1564, I. 50 b. Christ the true lyght of the world is com, therfore those Ceremonies of the olde law are nowe nomore necessary.

251   † 12.  A religious system; the Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan or Pagan religion. By my law: by my faith; also to swear one’s law. Cf. LAY sb.3

252 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1349. We leaueð þi lahe … Ant turneð alle to Criste.

253 c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 17/564. Heore lawe nas riȝt nouȝt, Þat ne bi-liefden nouȝt on þe rode.

254 a. 1300.  K. Horn, 65. Hi here laȝe asoke.

255 13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 1780. Þe seue kniȝtes of heþen lawe Beues slouȝ that ilche stounde.

256 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (Jacobus Minor), 190. Faraseis & wysmene of Iowis lach mad answere þane.

257 a. 1400.  Pistill of Susan, 3. He was so lele in his lawe.

258 c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xxiii. 252. Thei suffren, that folk of alle Lawes may peysibely duellen amonges hem.

259 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4306. In him we lely beleue & in na laȝe ellis.

260 c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4824. And forsake his paynym lawe.

261 c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 86 b. By my lawe sire sayd Mopsius I see no way.

262 c. 1500.  Melusine, xlix. 324. He sware hys lawe that lytel or nought he shuld entrete hym.

263 1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 312. But the Mufti being highest Interpreter of their Law … must indeed have preeminence.

264 1685.  Stillingfl., Orig. Brit., i. 9. Here the first Disciples of the Catholick Law found an ancient Church.

265   *** Combined applications.

266   13.  Often used as the subject of propositions equally applying to human and divine law. In juristic and philosophical works often with definitions intended to include also the senses explained in branches II and III below. (See quots.)

267 1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. ii. § 1. That which doth assign unto each thing the kind, that which doth moderate the force and power, that which doth appoint the form and measure, of working, the same we term a Law. Ibid., xvi. § 8. Of Law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world.

268 1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., 3. The Scripture is … a Pandect of profitable lawes, against rebellious spirits.

269 1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 137. My designe being not to shew what is Law here, and there, but what is Law.

270 1690.  Locke, Govt., II. vi. § 57. Law, in its proper Notion, is … the Direction of a free and intelligent Agent to his proper Interest.

271 1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. 39. This then is the general signification of law, a rule of action dictated by some superior being.

272 1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., Notes (1852), 344. Law speaks the language of indignation against crime.

273 1889.  Ruskin, Præterita, III. 159. Men of perfect genius are known in all centuries by their perfect respect to all law.

274   II.  Without reference to an external commanding authority.

275   † 14.  Custom, customary rule or usage; habit, practice, ‘ways.’ Law of (the) land: custom of the country. At thieves’ law: after the manner of thieves. Obs.

276 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 25. Þenne hafest þu þes hundes laȝe, Þe nu speoweð and ef[t] hit fret.

277 c. 1200.  Ormin, 2373. Ȝho wollde ben Rihht laȝhelike fesstnedd Wiþþ macche, swa summ i þatt ald wass laȝhe to ben fesstned.

278 c. 1220.  Bestiary, 23. Ðe ðridde laȝe haueð ðe leun.

279 a. 1225.  Juliana, 10. Ȝef þu wult leauen þe lahen þat tu list in.

280 a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1109 (Ritson). An horn hue ber an honde, For that wes lawe of londe.

281 13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 790. Enbaned vnder þe abataylment in þe best lawe.

282 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 322. Þe lord of Badenauh … Lyued at theues lauh.

283 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4402. A-nothire laȝe is in ȝoure lande at oure lord hatis.

284 1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. viii. 9. Yet testifye vnto them and shewe them the lawe of the kynge that shall raigne ouer them.

285 15[?].  Adam Bel, etc. in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 158. Whan they came before the kyng, As it was the lawe of the lande, They kneled downe.

286   † b.  Old Cant. With distinctive word prefixed: A particular branch of the art of thieving.

287 c. 1550.  Dice-Play, B iv b. Thus giue they their owne conueyance the name of cheting law, so do they other termes, as sacking law: high law, Fygging law, and such lyke.

288 1591.  Greene, Disc. Coosnage (1859), 33. Hereupon doe they give their false conveyance the name of Conny-catching Lawe, as there be also other Lawes, as High-Law, Sacking Law, Figging Law, Cheting Lawe, Barnards Lawe.

289   † 15.  What is or is considered right or proper; justice or correctness of conduct. Also right and law; against, in, out of, with law. Of a law: with good reason. Obs.

290 c. 1200.  Ormin, 6256. Þe birrþ himm biddenn don þe rihht & laȝhe.

291 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 536. Wapmen bi-gunnen quad mester … A ðefis kinde, a-ȝenes laȝe.

292 13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 410. Bi mi trewþe … Schal Y mi fader þe tiding bere, Thou worþest to hewen … Oþer wiþ wilde hors to-drawe For þi foly, & þat wer lawe.

293 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 113. Dauid did but lawe, Mald had his seruage.

294 c. 1340.  Cursor M., 13052 (Trin.). Ȝitt is she þi broþer wif whom þou shuldes not haue with lawe.

295 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 127–8. To deme betwen al maner of folke … wythout goynge assyd owt of lawe.

296 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4666. Neuir-þe-les of a laȝe hald we vs driȝtins.

297 c. 1440.  York Myst., viii. 10. Alle in lawe to lede þer lyffe.

298   16.  A rule of action or procedure; one of the rules defining correct procedure in an art or department of action, or in a game. † Also, manner of life.

299 a. 1225.  [see 3 d].

300 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7940. Godd mad þe king of israel, To lede þe folk wit laghes lel.

301 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 149. Ouer al thynge the wysdome of a kyng sholde his law gouerne aftyr the law of god.

302 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxviii. 44. Wherfor in woman is no laghe ffor she is withoutten aghe.

303 1611.  Bible, Rom. ii. 14. These [the Gentiles] hauing not the Law, are a Law vnto themselues.

304 1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. III.), 102. And the lawes of decencie are so ancient, that they seem to be a part of the ancient religion.

305 1671.  L. Addison, W. Barbary, 50. Contrary to all Ingenuity and Laws of Hospitality. Ibid., 52. That he who aspires after … Conquest, ought not to binde himself to the Laws of a fair Gamester.

306 1683.  Tryon, Way to Health, xix. (1697). 430. The Lord endued Man with the Spirit of Understanding, by which he might be a Guide and Law unto himself.

307 1736.  Butler, Anal., I. iv. 134. A few who shamelessly avow … their mere will and pleasure to be their law of life.

308 1742.  Hoyle (title), A short treatise on the game of Whist. Containing the laws of the game.

309 1837.  Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, v. (1866), I. 78. For free intelligences, a law is an ideal necessity given in the form of a precept, which we ought to follow.

310 1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng., I. i. 29. Self-protection is the first law of life.

311 1867.  (title) The laws of Football, as played at Rugby School.

312 1877.  E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, vi. 259. A moral law states what ought to be.

313   b.  The code or body of rules recognized in a specified department of action. Law of arms: the recognized custom of professional soldiers; † also, the rules of heraldry. Law of honour (see HONOUR sb. 9 h).

314 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 26276. Lagh o penance will þat [etc.].

315 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, E iij. By the law of venery as I dare vnder take.

316 c. 1500.  in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1879), 100. Law of armys disponys ffor theme be sett and portrait with pictouris.

317 1530.  Palsgr., 237/2. Lawe of armes, droict darmes.

318 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 255. He might have kepte theim in straite prison, by juste lawe of Armes.

319 1557.  Tottell’s Misc. (Arb.), 139. Of louers lawe he toke no cure.

320 1626.  Jackson, Creed, VIII. xiv. § 2. Unto Satan the professed rebel against him … he did vouchsafe the benefit of the law of Armes or duel.

321   III.  Scientific and philosophical uses.

322   17.  In the sciences of observation, a theoretical principle deduced from particular facts, applicable to a defined group or class of phenomena, and expressible by the statement that a particular phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions be present. In the physical sciences, and occasionally in others, called more explicitly law of nature or natural law.

323   The ‘laws of nature,’ by those who first used the term in this sense, were viewed as commands imposed by the Deity upon matter, and even writers who do not accept this view often speak of them as ‘obeyed’ by the phenomena, or as agents by which the phenomena are produced.

324 1665.  Phil. Trans., I. 31. The changes be varied according to very odd Laws.

325 1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. vi. The Wisdome … of God does … confine the creatures to the establish’d Laws of Nature.

326 1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. § 13. A law of Nature … something that we being ignorant of may attain to the knowledge of by the use and due application of our natural Faculties.

327 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 698. Happy the Man, who, studying Nature’s Laws, Thro’ known Effects can trace the secret Cause.

328 1755.  Johnson, Law, an established and constant mode or process; a fixed correspondence of cause and effect.

329 1764.  Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 13. The laws of nature are nothing else but the most general facts relating to the operations of nature.

330 1794.  Hutton, Philos. Light, etc., 16. We … name those rules of action the laws of nature.

331 1827.  Whately, Logic (1837), 361. The conformity of individual cases to the general rule is that which constitutes a Law of Nature.

332 1865.  Reader, 29 April, 484/3. A Law expresses an invariable order of phenomena or facts.

333 1875.  Maine, Hist. Instit. (ed. 4), 373. Law … has been applied derivatively to the orderly sequences of Nature.

334 1883.  H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W. (ed. 2), 5. The Laws of Nature are simply statements of the orderly condition of things in Nature.

335 1898.  G. Meredith, Odes Fr. Hist., 62. Those firm laws Which we name Gods.

336   b.  With reference to a particular science or field of inquiry.

337   Laws of motion: chiefly used spec. for the three following propositions formulated by Newton: (1) A body must continue in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line, unless acted on by some external force; (2) Change of motion takes place in the direction of the impressed force, and is proportional to it; (3) Action and reaction are equal, and in contrary directions.

338 1668.  Phil. Trans., III. 864. A Summary Account given by Dr. John Wallis, Of the General Laws of Motion,… communicated to the R. Society, Novemb 26. 1668. Ibid. (1669), IV. 925. A Summary Account Of the Laws of Motion, communicated by Mr. Christian Hugens in a Letter to the R. Society.

339 1726.  trans. Gregory’s Astron., I. 112. The Law of Attraction being the same as before.

340 1727–53.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Motion, The general laws of motion were first brought into a system … by Dr. Wallis, Sir Christopher Wren, and M. Huygens.

341 1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. Introd. § 2. 38. The laws of motion, of gravitation, of optics, or mechanics.

342 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 48. Whoever passes in Germany from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant principality … finds that he has passed from a lower to a higher grade of civilization. On the other side of the Atlantic the same law prevails.

343 1854.  Brewster, More Worlds, xv. 221. The law of universal gravitation is established for several of these systems.

344 1857.  S. P. Hall, in Merc. Marine Mag. (1858), V. 11. It does seem strange that … greater attention is not given to the Law of Storms.

345 1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. xi. 289. As regards the motion of the surface of a glacier, two laws are to be borne in mind.

346 1864.  Bowen, Logic, ix. 308. The fact that water stands at this level is ranked among many other facts, which are comprehended under the general statement called a Law of Hydrostatics.

347 1877.  E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, iii. 122. The laws of reasoning and of duty.

348 1884.  trans. Lotze’s Metaph., 333. Stated in its complete logical form a law is always a universal hypothetical judgment, which states that whenever C is or holds good, E is or holds good.

349   c.  In certain sciences, particular ‘laws’ are known by the names of their discoverers, as in the following examples. (Most of these terms are of general European currency, their equivalents being used in Fr., Ger., It., etc.)

350   (a)  Astronomy.

351   Bode’s law, an empirical formula representing the distances of the orbits of the other planets from the orbit of Mercury as forming an approximate geometrical progression. Kepler’s laws, the three propositions established by John Kepler (1571–1630) with regard to the planetary motions: (1) That the planets move in ellipses, the sun being in one of the foci; (2) That the radius vector of a planet describes equal areas in equal times; (3) That the square of the periodic time of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of its mean distance from the sun.

352 1781.  Chambers’ Cycl., Kepler’s Law, is that law of the planetary motions discovered by Kepler.

353 1805.  Edin. Rev., Jan., 443. Kepler’s Laws.

354 1833.  Herschel, Astron., Index, Bode’s law of planetary distances.

355 1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., I. 416. One of the important rules known to us as ‘Kepler’s laws.’

356   (b)  Physics.

357   Avogadro’s law, the law that equal volumes of different gases, pressure and temperature being equal, contain the same number of molecules. Boyle’s law, the principle, published by Robert Boyle about 1662, that the volume of a given mass of gas (the temperature being constant) varies inversely as the pressure. Charles’s law, the law discovered by Alex. César Charles (1746–1823) that for every degree centigrade of rise in temperature, the volume of a gas increases by ·00366 of its amount at zero. Dulong and Petit’s law, the law that all the chemical elements have approximately the same atomic heat.

358 1860.  Maxwell, Sci. Papers (1890), I. 389. Boyle and Mariotte’s law.

359 1863.  Atkinson, Ganot’s Physics, 110. The laws of the compressibility of gases were studied separately by Boyle and by Mariotti…. Each of these philosophers arrived at the same law, which in England bears the name of Boyle’s, and on the continent of Mariotti’s. Ibid., 288. Dulong and Petit’s law may be thus expressed; the same quantity of heat is needed to heat an atom of all simple bodies to the same extent.

360 1880.  Cleminshaw, trans. Wurtz’ Atom. The., v. 95. The ‘law,’ as it is generally called, of Avogadro and Ampère may be enunciated as follows: Equal volumes of gases or vapours contain the same number of molecules.

361 1884.  Daniell, Princ. Physics, 223. Then the volume varies as the ‘absolute temperature’ (Charles’s Law, often attributed to Gay Lussac).

362   (c)  Philology.

363   Grimm’s law, the rule formulated by Jacob Grimm (in the 2nd ed. of his Deutsche Grammatik, 1822) with regard to the representation in the Germanic langs. of certain consonants of the primitive Aryan language. Grimm’s statement was that original aspirates became mediæ in Gothic, Low German, English, Old Norse, etc., and tenues in High German; original mediæ became tenues in Gothic, etc., and ‘aspirates’ (supposed to be represented by spirants and affricates) in High German; and original tenues became ‘aspirates’ in Gothic, etc., and mediæ in High German. The formula is no longer accepted as correct, but the name of ‘Grimm’s law’ is still applied to its rectified form, which is too complicated to be stated here. Verner’s law, discovered by Karl Verner of Copenhagen in 1875, deals with a class of exceptions to Grimm’s law, and is to the effect that an original Germanic voiceless spirant, when following or terminating a primitively unaccented syllable, became a voiced spirant, which in the historic Germanic langs. is under certain conditions represented by a media; the z which according to the ‘law’ results from s is, except in Gothic, normally represented by r. Grassmann’s law, published by Hermann Grassmann in 1863, is that when primitive Aryan had two aspirates in the same or successive syllables the former of them was in Sanskrit changed into the corresponding media, and in Greek into the corresponding tenuis.

364 1841.  Latham, Eng. Lang., 190. An important fact relating to the change of consonants, which is currently called Grimm’s Law.

365 1878.  Sweet, in Academy, 9 Feb., 123/2. Verner’s law [explained].

366   (d)  Pol. Econ.

367   Gresham’s law, the principle involved in Sir Thomas Gresham’s letter to Q. Elizabeth in 1558, that ‘bad money drives out good,’ i.e., that when debased money (sc. coins reduced in weight or fineness, or both) is current in the same country with coins of full legal weight and fineness, the latter will tend to be exported, leaving the inferior money as the only circulating medium.

368 1858.  Macleod, Elem. Pol. Econ., 477. As he was the first to perceive that a bad and debased currency is the cause of the disappearance of the good money, we are only doing what is just, in calling this great fundamental law of the currency by his name. We may call it Gresham’s law of the currency.

369   18.  In generalized sense: Laws (of Nature) in general; the order and regularity in Nature of which laws are the expression.

370 a. 1853.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. IV. iii. (1876), 26. Such an event is invariably followed by such a consequence. This we call law.

371 1865.  Mozley, Mirac., ii. 39. In the argument against miracles the first objection is that they are against law.

372 1866.  Dk. Argyll, Reign Law, ii. (1867), 64. We have Law as applied simply to an observed Order of facts.

373 1873.  H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., ii. 42. The accepted conception of law is that of an established order to which the manifestations of a power or force conform.

374 1883.  H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W., i. I. (1884), 5. The fundamental conception of Law is an ascertained working sequence … among the Phenomena of Nature.

375   19.  Math. The rule or principle on which a series, or the construction of a curve, etc., depends.

376 1805–17.  R. Jameson, Char. Min. (ed. 3), 163. The law which produces an octahedron from a cube.

377   IV.  20. Sport. An allowance in time or distance made to an animal that is to be hunted, or to one of the competitors in a race, in order to ensure equal conditions; a start; in phrases to get, give, have (fair) law (of).

378 1600.  R. Whyte, in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz., III. 91. Hir Grace … sawe sixteen buckes (all having fayre lawe) pulled downe with greyhoundes, in a laund.

379 1607.  Markham, Caval., III. (1617), 82. That the formost getting his law of the hindmost, do win the wager. Ibid. (1611), Country Content., I. vii. (1668), 43. That the Fewterer shall give the Hare twelve score Law, ere he loose the Greyhounds.

380 1666–7.  Denham, Direct. Paint., I. v. 7. So Huntsmen fair unto the Hares give Law.

381 1704.  Collect. Voy. (Churchill), III. 40/1. If the Bird has Law of him, he will hardly overtake him.

382 1706.  E. Ward, Hud. Rediv. (1707), I. I. 22. The silly Hare … Having good Law, sat down to rest her.

383 1787.  G. White, Selborne, vi. (1789), 18. When the devoted deer was separated from his companions, they gave him, by their watches, law,… for twenty minutes.

384 1811.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 142. Give her law and she’ll hold it a mile.

385 1829.  J. R. Best, Pers. & Lit. Mem., 77. The accident was owing to his giving his horse too much law.

386 1861.  Whyte-Melville, Mkt. Harb., x. (ed. 12), 82. The fox … having obtained … a little law of his pursuers, takes advantage of the lull to slip away.

387 1883.  E. Pennell-Elmhirst, Cream Leicestersh., 312. The pack were now together,… the fox had gained but little law.

388   b.  Hence, Indulgence, mercy.

389 1649.  Fuller, Just Man’s Funeral, 17. God will give them fair law.

390 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. xi. (1840), 236. Merchant-ships show but little law to pirates, if they get them in their power.

391 1848.  J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain, 289. We shall have you back again among us by next Christmas … I can’t give you greater law.

392 1849.  E. E. Napier, Excurs. S. Africa, II. 101. The ‘on dit’ is that he has ten days more law.

393 1879.  Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf. P., 594. I will never grant One inch of law to feeble blasphemies.

394   V.  attrib. and Comb.

395   21.  Simple attributive. a. Pertaining to the law as a body of rules to be obeyed, as in law-system; pertaining to law as a department of study, as in law authority, dictionary, -faculty, language, -learning, -library, -lore, -pedant, -point, -school, -student, -tractate, -vocable, -word; pertaining to the legal profession, as law-craft, -gentleman, -list, -person, † -solicitor; pertaining to forensic procedure and litigation, as in † law-bar, -case, -charges, -chicanery, costs, -court, -fight, -quirk, -reports, -sale, -suitor, -writings; pertaining to the Mosaic dispensation or to the law in opposition to the gospel, as in law-covenant, -curse, -work, -worker.

396 1818.  Cobbett, Pol. Reg., XXXIII. 381. His book is the greatest of all *Law-Authorities.

397 1602.  Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiii. 302. At Westminsters *Law-Barres.

398 1710.  Tatler, No. 190, ¶ 3. No one would offer to put a *Law-Case to me.

399 1776.  Foote, Bankrupt, III. Wks. 1799, II. 126. The Attorney General to the paper, that answers the law cases, is not come yet.

400 1669.  Marvell, Corr., cxii. Wks. 1872–5, II. 271. Your *law-charges here amount not to 5li.

401 1819.  Hermit in London, II. 135. Long acquainted with law-persons and law-charges.

402 1795.  Burke, Tracts Popery Laws, iv. Wks. IX. 394. Vexatious litigation and crooked *law-chicanery.

403 1618.  Bolton, Florus, IV. xii. (1636), 325. Hee durst set up a *Law-court, and sit in judgement within his Campe.

404 1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 258. Justification … is a term taken from the law-courts.

405 1878.  N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 57. Condemned by the law-courts.

406 1803.  A. Swanston, Serm. & Lect., II. 168. The term of the *law-covenant might be somewhat relaxed.

407 1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xx. (1617), 345. *Lawecraft hath almost as many sundry lawes as cases.

408 1832.  Southey, in Q. Rev., XLVII. 504. The sober follies which disgrace our law-craft.

409 1786.  A. Gib, Sacred Contempl., II. I. iii. 177. Through a full effect of the *law-curse to which they are naturally subjected.

410 1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, xi. (1596), 154. In the *law-faculty euery law containeth a seueral particular case.

411 1880.  Mrs. Oliphant, He that will not, etc. xxxi. He could not fight for his inheritance … unless indeed it were a *law-fight in the courts.

412 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xlvi. If you *law-gentlemen do these things on speculation, why you must get a loss now and then you know.

413 1808.  Bentham, Sc. Reform, 43. *Law-learning, with falshood for the basis of it.

414 1799.  H. K. White, Let to bro. Neville, Rem. (1825), 179. With … a very large *law library to refer to.

415 1852.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., x. Almanacs, diaries, and *law-lists.

416 1812.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 179. The … chaos of *law-lore from which we wished to be emancipated.

417 1751.  H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), II. 382. You would easily believe this story, if you knew what a mere *law-pedant it is!

418 1819.  *law-persons [see law-charges above].

419 1819.  Scott, in Biog. Notices, ii. (1880), 385. If a *lawpoint were submitted to him.

420 1667.  Decay Chr. Piety, vii. ¶ 10. Solicitous … to … leave nothing to the mercy of a *law-quirk.

421 1888.  Lighthall, Yng. Seigneur, 70. Before the parish church, just after mass on Sunday forenoon, the bailiff cries his *law-sales.

422 1738.  Warburton, Div. Legat., I. 431. That known Story of two *Law Sollicitors.

423 1884.  Harper’s Mag., LXVIII. 817/1. The next call was upon S——, a young *law-student.

424 a. 1720.  Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), I. 160. We did not, as *law-suitors for contention, Disburse more charges than the prize was worth.

425 1880.  Gladstone, in Daily News, 17 June, 2/4. Allowing for all the differences in the *law system of the two countries.

426 1649.  Milton, Eikon., v. 45. To which and other *Law-tractats I referr the more Lawyerlie mooting of this point.

427 1845.  Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), V. 60. Hundreds of *Law-vocables.

428 a. 1654.  Selden, Table-T. (Arb.), 64. Allodium is a *Law-word contrairy to Feudum.

429 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 198. God healeth the sinner from his guiltiness (it is a law-word). Ibid., 149. It is likely Judas and Cain … had some *law-work in their heart, and yet were never converted.

430 1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xii. Wi’ ony rag of human righteousness, or formal law-work.

431 1860.  N. Macmichael, Pilgrim Ps., 251. Law-work keeps him struggling … for years before he finds peace in believing.

432 1577.  Vautrouillier, Luther on Ep. Gal., 131. I haue the author and Lord of the Scripture wyth me, on whose side I will rather stand, then beleue all the rablement of *Law-workers.

433 1701.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3749/6. The original Titles to Estates, and other *Law-Writings.

434   b.  Pertaining to or commonly used for legal treatises or documents, as law-binding, -calf, -sheep.

435 1727–51.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Book-binding, French-binding, law-binding, marble-binding [etc.].

436 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxxiv. Goodly octavos, with a red label behind, and that underdone-pie-crust-coloured cover, which is technically known as ‘law-calf.’

437 1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 89/1. The uncoloured skin … is used in the peculiar style of binding called Law.

438 1895.  J. Zaehnsdorf, Hist. Bookbind., 25. Law Calf.—Law books are usually bound in calf left wholly uncoloured.

439   c.  with the sense ‘as defined by law, according to the legal view,’ as in law-goodness, -guilt, -infant, obligation, † power, reckoning, righteousness; law-honest adj.

440 1850.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. v. 65. Goodness … which is produced by rewards and punishments—*law goodness, *law-righteousness.

441 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 197. Not only shall justification free us … from all *law-guilt … but [etc.].

442 1873.  Spectator, 22 Feb., 236/2. To find representatives who after a double winnowing are commonly *‘law honest,’ will abstain from actual bribes or actual plundering of the State till.

443 1810.  Sporting Mag., XXXV. 62. The consent and approbation of the fair *law-infant.

444 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 201. Christ’s pardon in like manner doth remove a *law-obligation to eternal death.

445 1647.  Mercurius Brit., His Spectacles, 4. A King … whilest he is absent from his Parliament as a man, he is legally and in his *Law-power present.

446 1800.  A. Swanston, Serm. & Lect., I. 326. The sufferings which Christ endured are his by God’s gracious imputation and in *law-reckoning.

447   22.  a. Objective, as law-bearer, -evader, -framer, -fulfiller, † -monger, -preacher, † -racker; law-catching, -making, -preaching vbl. sbs.; law-magnifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; law-contemning, -cracking, -loving, † -monging, -revering adjs. b. Instrumental, as law-beaten, -bound, -condemned, -forced, -locked, -made, -ridden adjs. c. Locative, as law-learned adj.; hence law-learnedness.

448 1483.  Cath. Angl., 210/2. A *Law berer, legifer.

449 1645.  Milton, Tetrach., Wks. 1851, IV. 190. Let the buyer beware, saith the old *Law-beaten terme.

450 a. 1613.  Overbury, Charac., Franklin, Wks. (1856), 149. To bee *law-bound among men, is like to be hide-bound among his beasts.

451 1625.  Fletcher & Shirley, Night-Walker, IV. i. I’ll … let my Lady go a-foot a *Law-catching.

452 1681.  Flavel, Meth. Grace, vi. 120. I am a *law-condemned, and a self-condemned sinner.

453 1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, IV. xxiv. Your *law contemning kinsmen.

454 1606.  Wily Beguiled, B 4 b. This *lawcracking cogfoyst.

455 1894.  H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 2. Being both a law-breaker and a *law-evader.

456 1794.  Coleridge, Relig. Musings, I. 102. The morsel toss’d by *law-forced charity.

457 1876.  Fox Bourne, Locke, III. xiii. 392–3. Expert *law-framers.

458 1870.  Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xl. 8. The atoning sacrifice, the *law-fulfiller.

459 1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Trophies, 1308. The *Law-learnd Sage.

460 1658–9.  Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 121. A law-learned head and an eloquent tongue.

461 1895.  Jane Menzies, Cynewulf’s Elene, 38.        Then boldly to my sire I answer made, E’en to the law-learned one, the ancient sage.

462 1826.  Bentham, in Westm. Rev., Oct., 492. *Law-learnedness in this and the higher grade.

463 1886.  G. Allen, Maimie’s Sake, xiv. We must behave ourselves like civilized people, clothed and *law-locked.

464 1698.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. III. Colonies, 424. Th’ ingenious, Towr-full, and *Law-loving Soil, Which Jove did with his Leman’s name en-stile.

465 1622.  Drayton, Poly-olb., XXII. 113. His father the lord Wells, who he suppos’d might sway His so outrageous son with his lov’d *law-made brother, Sir Thomas Dymock.

466 1744.  E. Erskine, Serm., Wks. 1871, III. 185. The *law-magnifying righteousness of Christ.

467 1786.  A. Gib, Sacred Contempl., 337. The justice-satisfying and law-magnifying nature of his atonement.

468 1690.  Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 33. Every nation does proceed according to peculiar methods of their own in … *law-making.

469 1645.  Milton, Colast., 18. Though this catering *Law-monger bee bold to call it wicked.

470 a. 1693.  Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xliv. 362. *Law-monging Attorneys.

471 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 144. Your *law-preachers lead men from the foundation, Christ.

472 1875.  E. White, Life in Christ, III. xxii. (1878), 322. Those antediluvians who had heard the *law-preaching of Enoch and of Noah.

473 1635.  Brathwait, Arcad. Pr., 217. If I should be Judge,… *Law-rackers should be all made readers of the Anatomy Lecture in Pluto’s court.

474 1862.  S. Lucas, Secularia, 200. Their act is memorably characteristic of our *law-revering race.

475 1835.  Marryat, Olla Podr., iii. England is no longer priest-ridden … but … she is *law-ridden.

476 1874.  Helps, Soc. Press., ii. 23. A very considerably law-ridden country.

477   23.  Special comb.: law-act, (a) a transaction in law; (b) (see ACT sb. 8); law-bible, applied by Irish Roman Catholics to the Authorized Version; law-bred a., bred or trained in legal studies; law-church (disparagingly), the Established Church; † law-copyist, a scrivener; † law-daughter (see 3 c above); † law-driver, one who drives or works at the law; a lawyer; † law-father (see 3 c above); † law-free a., not legally convicted or condemned; law-French, the corrupt variety of Norman French used in English law-books; † law-house, a court of justice; law-keeper, † (a) a guardian of the law; = Gr. νομοφύλαξ; (b) an observer of the law; law-Latin, the barbarous Latin of early English statutes; law-lord, (a) one of the members of the House of Lords qualified to take part in its judicial business; (b) in Scotland colloq., one of those judges who have by courtesy the style of ‘Lord’; law-lordship, the office or dignity of a law-lord; law-neck-cloth, humorous for ‘a pillory’; law-office (U.S.), a lawyer’s office; law-officer, a public functionary employed in the administration of the law, or to advise the government in legal matters; spec. in England, law-officer (of the Crown), either the Attorney or Solicitor General; hence law-officership; † law-place, (a) a post as law professor; (b) position in the eye of the law; law-post, ? a post marking the limit of ‘law’ (sense 20); † law-prudent a. [after juris prudentia], marked by legal learning; † law-puddering, pothering about the law; † law-setter, a lawgiver; law-term, (a) a word or expression used in law; (b) one of the periods appointed for the sitting of the law-courts; law-writer, † (a) a legislator; (b) one who writes books on law; (c) one who copies or engrosses legal documents.

478 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 215. The renewed apprehension of the grace of God … maketh not a new forensical and *law-act.

479 1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. xi. 470. After a Man has been five years Batchellor of Law, or seven years Master of Arts, he may be Doctor of Law, provided he keep two Law-Acts, and Oppose once.

480 1847.  W. Carleton, Traits Irish Peasantry (1860), II. 5. The consoling reflection that he swore only on a *Law Bible.

481 1836.  Sir H. Taylor, Statesman, xxxii. 251. The fault of a *law-bred mind lies commonly in seeing too much of a question, not seeing its parts in their due proportions.

482 1826.  in Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), II. 185. He wishes to support the *law-church, and the army.

483 1845.  G. Oliver, Biog. Jesuits, 42. A minister of the Law-church was called in for his opinion.

484 1853.  H. Melville, in Putnam’s Mag., Nov., 546/1. An interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written:—I mean the *law-copyists or scriveners.

485 1583.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 60. And Hecuba old Princesse dyd I see, with number, an hundred *Law daughters.

486 1625.  Fletcher & Shirley, Nt. Walker, IV. i. She’s the merriest thing among these *law-drivers, And in their studies half a day together.

487 1583.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 54. Next cooms thee lusty Choroebus Soon to king Priamus by law: thus he *lawfather helping.

488 a. 1670.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), I. 12. To quyte him who had married his sister, so long as he was *law free, he could not with his honour.

489 1644.  Milton, Educ., Wks. (1847), 99/2. To smatter Latin with an English mouth, is as ill a hearing as *law French.

490 1876.  Digby, Real Prop., v. 205, note. The reports in the Year Books are written in the strange jargon called law-French.

491 a. 1610.  Healey, Theophrastus (1636), 91. Strouting it in the *Lawe house, saying; There is no dwelling in this Citie.

492 1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 49. That no Poet should so much as read to any privat man, what he had writt’n, untill the Judges and *Law-keepers had seen it.

493 1894.  H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 3. [A man may] be at once a law-breaker and a good man, or a law-keeper and a bad one.

494 a. 1613.  Overbury, A Wife (1638), 192. He hates all but *Law-Latine.

495 1713.  Berkeley, Guardian, No. 62, ¶ 4. An imitation of the polite style,… is abandoned for law-Latin.

496 1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., v. I ken our law-latin offends Mr. Butler’s ears.

497 1773.  Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 444. The measure … will not be opposed in council by any great *law-lord in the kingdom.

498 1883.  Freeman, in Longm. Mag., II. 482. There has been something like the revival of a kind of professional peerage in the persons of certain of the law-lords.

499 1901.  Dundee Advertiser, 12 April. ‘Lord Newbottle’—there never was such a title in the Scottish Peerage, though it was a law-lord’s title.

500 1882.  Daily News, 3 June, 2/2. An Irish Judge had been nominated to fill one of the *law-lordships of the House of Lords.

501 1789.  Wolcot (P. Pindar), Expost. Ode, vi. Wks. 1812, II. 228. Perchance *Law Neck-cloths, form’d of deal or oak … Shall rudely hug his harmless throat.

502 1896.  Chatauqua Mag., Dec., 322/1. The daily routine and drudgery of a *law-office.

503 1781.  Sir W. Jones, Ess. Bailments, 85. The great *law-officer of the Othman court.

504 1817.  Sp. Earl Liverpool, in Parl. Debates, 778. It might turn out, that the law officers in 1801 had acted upon their own opinion.

505 1896.  Daily News, 1 July, 7/2. An Under-Secretaryship for India … was a poor substitute for a *Law Officership.

506 1587.  in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), 25. A *Lawe place now voyde by the departure of Mr Doctor Day.

507 a. 1771.  J. Gill, in Treas. Dav., Ps. cxix. 122. Put himself in their law-place and stead, and became responsible to law and justice for them.

508 1741.  Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. i. 309. The first, which is next the Dog-house and Pens, is the *Law-Post, and is distant from them 160 Yards.

509 1645.  Milton, Tetrach., 55. Heerin declaring his annotation to be slight & nothing *law prudent. Ibid., Colast., 16. The Servitor … declaring his capacity nothing refin’d since his *Law-puddering, but still the same it was in the Pantry, and at the Dresser.

510 1572.  L. Lloyd, Pilgr. Pr. (1607), 65. Lycurgus that auncient *law-setter.

511 1693.  Dryden, Juvenal (1697), p. lxvi. Writings, which my Author Tacitus, from the *Law-Term, calls famosos libellos.

512 1758.  S. Hayward, Serm., i. 11. The word Condemnation is a law-term.

513 1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Legislateur,… a Law-maker, a *lawe-writer.

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