LAW (0. Eng. lagu, M. Eng. lawe; from an old

See also:

• TEUTONIC
• TEUTONIC (GERMANIC) LANGUAGES

Teutonic

See also:

• ROOT (late O.E. rot, adopted from Scand., cf. Norw. and Swed. rot, Dan. rod; the true O.E. word was wyrt, plant, represented in Ger. Wurz or Wurzel; the ultimate root is the same in both words, and is seen in Lat. radix)
• ROOT, ELIHU (1845– )

root lag, "

See also:

• LIE, JONAS LAURITZ EDEMIL (1833—1908)
• LIE, MARIUS SOPHUS (1842–1899)

lie," what lies fixed or evenly; cf.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. lex, Fr. loi)  , a word used in English in two main senses-(1) as a rule prescribed by authority for human action, and (2) in scientific and philosophic phraseology, as a uniform order of sequence (e.g . " laws " of motion) . In the first sense the word is used either in the abstract, for jurisprudence generally or for a state of things in which the laws of a country are duly observed (" law and order "), or in the concrete for some particular rule or body of rules . It is usual to distinguish further between " law " and " equity " (q.v.) . The scientific and philosophic usage has grown out of an early conception of jurisprudence, and is really metaphorical, derived from the phrase " natural law " or " law of nature," which presumed that commands were laid on matter by God (see T . E . Holland, Elements of Jurisprudence, ch. ii.), The adjective " legal " is only used in the first sense, never in the second . In the case of the " moral law " (see ETHICS) the term is employed somewhat ambiguously because of its connexion with both meanings . There is also an Old English use of the word " law " in. a more or less sporting sense (" to give law " or " allow so much law "), meaning a start or fair allowance in time or distance . Presumably this originated simply in the liberty-loving Briton's respect for proper legal procedure: instead of the brute exercise of tyrannous force he demanded " law," or a fair opportunity and trial . But it may simply be an extension of the meaning of " right," or of the sense of " leave " which is found in early uses of the French lei . In this work the laws or uniformities of the physical universe are dealt with in the articles on the various sciences .

The

general principles of law in the legal sense are discussed under JURISPRUDENCE . What may be described as " national systems " of law are dealt with historically and generally under ENGLISH LAW, AMERICAN LAW, ROMAN LAW, GREEK LAW, MAHOMMEDAN LAW, INDIAN LAW, &c . Certain broad divisions of law are treated under CONSTITUTION AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CANON LAW, CIVIL LAW, COMMON LAW, CRIMINAL LAW, ECCLESIASTICAL LAW, EQUITY, INTERNATIONAL LAW, MILITARY LAW, &C . And the particular laws of different countries on special subjects are stated under the headings for those subjects (BANKRUPTCY, &c.) . For courts (q.v.) of law, and procedure, see JURISPRUDENCE, APPEAL, TRIAL, KING'S BENCH, &C .