- law
- I(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)n. statute, ordinance, regulation, mandate; rule, maxim; precept, axiom, jurisprudence. See legality, permission.II(Roget's IV) n.1. [The judicial system]Syn. judicial procedure, judicature, legal process, the authorities, the legal authorities, the police, writ, writ of habeas corpus, due process, precept, summons, notice, warrant, bench warrant, search warrant, warrant of arrest, subpoena, garnishment, They*; see also authority 3 , government 1 , 2 , legality .2. [Bodies of the law]Syn. code, constitution, organic act, criminal law, statute law, civil law, law of the press, maritime law, martial law, military law, private law, public law, commercial law, probate law, substantive law, statutory law, chancery, statutes, civil code, ordinances, precepts, equity, cases, archives, common law, canon law, decisions, unwritten law, natural law.3. [An enactment]Syn. statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, edict, decree, order, judicial decision, ruling, injunction, summons, act, charge, prescription, canon, caveat, enactment, requirement, demand, divestiture, rescript, commandment, mandate, dictate, precept, instruction, behest, bidding, legislation, bill, bylaw; see also command 1 , indictment 2 , warrant , writ .4. [A principle]Syn. foundation, fundamental, origin, source, ultimate cause, truth, truism, axiom, maxim, tenet, doctrine, ground, base, reason, rule, rule of action, theorem, guide, precept, usage, postulate, proposition, generalization, proposal, assumption, hard and fast rule; see also basis 1 .5. [The study of law, sense 1]Syn. jurisprudence, legal precedent, legal science, equity, legal practice.6. [Officers appointed to enforce the law]Syn. district attorney, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, constable, state police, city police, lawman, the man*, cops*, pigs*; see also judge 1 , lawyer , police , policeman .7. [The Bible]Syn. Word, Old and New Testaments, the Book, Gospel, Scripture, Revelation; see also bible 2 .See Synonym Study at theory .• go to law*,Syn. take legal action, take to court, prosecute; see sue .• lay down the law*,Syn. establish rules, order, prohibit; see command 1 .• read law,Syn. prepare for a career as lawyer, study law, practice law, attend law school.Syn.- law , in its specific application, implies prescription and enforcement by a ruling authority [ the law of the land ] ; a rule may not be authoritatively enforced, but it is generally observed in the interests of order, uniformity, etc. [ the rules of golf ] ; regulation refers to a rule of a group or organization, enforced by authority [ military regulations] ; a statute is a law enacted by a legislative body; an ordinance is a local, generally municipal, law; a canon is, in its original meaning, a law of a church, but the term is also used of any established rule or principle regarded as true or as a standard to judge by usage [ the canons of good taste ]III(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.regulation, code, ordinance, rule, principle, statute, restriction, control, act, commandment, enactment, mandate, legislation. ''Reason free from passion.''— Aristotle. ''The embodiment of the moral sentiments of the people.''—William Blackstone. ''The expression and the perfection of common sense.''—Joseph Choate. ''The backbone which keeps man erect.''—S.C. Yuter.WORD FIND• evidence that incriminates oneself, refusal to give: taking the Fifth• habitual lawbreaker: scofflaw, recidivist• ignorance of the law is no excuse: ignorantia legis non excusat• jargon, law: legalese• lawlessness: anarchy• lured into a crime by police: entrapment• punishment, laws regarding: penal code• puritanical or overly strict laws: blue laws• reading of rights rule on arrest: Miranda rule• science and philosophy of law: jurisprudence• second prosecution, law against: double jeopardy• time limit for judicial action: statute of limitations• unjust imprisonment, writ preventing: habeas corpusIV(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A principle governing affairs within or among political units: canon, decree, edict, institute, ordinance, precept, prescription, regulation, rule. See LAW. 2. The formal product of a legislative or judicial body: act, assize, bill1, enactment, legislation, lex, measure, statute. See LAW. 3. Informal. A member of a law-enforcement agency: bluecoat, finest, officer, patrolman, patrolwoman, peace officer, police, policeman, police officer, policewoman. Informal: cop. Slang: bull1, copper, flatfoot, fuzz, gendarme, heat, man (often uppercase). Chiefly British: bobby, constable, peeler. See LAW. 4. A broad and basic rule or truth: axiom, fundamental, principle, theorem, universal. See ORDER. II verb To institute or subject to legal proceedings: litigate, prosecute, sue. Idiom: bring suit. See LAW.
English dictionary for students. 2013.
