1. 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.
A law may be universal or particular, written or unwritten, published or secret. From the nature of the
highest laws a degree of permanency or stability is always implied; but the power which makes a law, or
a superior power, may annul or change it.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made.
Lev. xxvi. 46.
The law of thy God, and the law of the King.
Ezra vii. 26.
As if they would confine the Interminable . . .
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.
Milton.
His mind his kingdom, and his will his law.
Cowper. 2. 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.
3. The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence,
also, the Old Testament.
What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law . . . But now the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Rom. iii. 19, 21. 4. In human government: (a) An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining
the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community. (b) Any edict, decree, order,
ordinance, statute, resolution, judicial, decision, usage, etc., or recognized, and enforced, by the controlling
authority.
5. 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.
6. In mathematics: 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason.
Coke.
Law is beneficence acting by rule.
Burke.
And sovereign Law, that state's collected will
O'er thrones and globes elate,
Sits empress, crowning good,
repressing ill.
Sir W. Jones.
