catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  
  
     Law of Charles (Physics), the law that the volume of a
        given mass of gas increases or decreases, by a definite
        fraction of its value for a given rise or fall of
        temperature; -- sometimes less correctly styled Gay
        Lussac's law, or Dalton's law.
  
     Law of nations. See International law, under
        International.
  
     Law of nature.
         (a) A broad generalization expressive of the constant
             action, or effect, of natural conditions; as, death
             is a law of nature; self-defense is a law of nature.
             See Law, 4.
         (b) A term denoting the standard, or system, of morality
             deducible from a study of the nature and natural
             relations of human beings independent of supernatural
             revelation or of municipal and social usages.
  
     Law of the land, due process of law; the general law of the
        land.
  
     Laws of honor. See under Honor.
  
     Laws of motion (Physics), three laws defined by Sir Isaac
        Newton: (1) Every body perseveres in its state of rest or
        of moving uniformly in a straight line, except so far as
        it is made to change that state by external force. (2)
        Change of motion is proportional to the impressed force,
        and takes place in the direction in which the force is
        impressed. (3) Reaction is always equal and opposite to
        action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon
        each other are always equal and in opposite directions.
  
     Marine law, or Maritime law, the law of the sea; a branch
        of the law merchant relating to the affairs of the sea,
        such as seamen, ships, shipping, navigation, and the like.
        --Bouvier.
  
     Mariotte's law. See Boyle's law (above).
  
     Martial law.See under Martial.
  
     Military law, a branch of the general municipal law,
        consisting of rules ordained for the government of the
        military force of a state in peace and war, and
        administered in courts martial. --Kent. Warren's
        Blackstone.
  
     Moral law,the law of duty as regards what is right and
        wrong in the sight of God; specifically, the ten
        commandments given by Moses. See Law, 2.
  
     Mosaic, or Ceremonial, law. (Script.) See Law, 3.
  
     Municipal, or Positive, law, a rule prescribed by the
        supreme power of a state, declaring some right, enforcing
        some duty, or prohibiting some act; -- distinguished from
        international and constitutional law. See Law, 1.
  
     Periodic law. (Chem.) See under Periodic.
  
     Roman law, the system of principles and laws found in the
        codes and treatises of the lawmakers and jurists of
        ancient Rome, and incorporated more or less into the laws
        of the several European countries and colonies founded by
        them. See Civil law (above).
  
     Statute law, the law as stated in statutes or positive
        enactments of the legislative body.
  
     Sumptuary law. See under Sumptuary.
  
     To go to law, to seek a settlement of any matter by
        bringing it before the courts of law; to sue or prosecute
        some one.
  
     To take, or have, the law of, to bring the law to bear
        upon; as, to take the law of one's neighbor. --Addison.
  
     Wager of law. See under Wager.
  
     Syn: Justice; equity.
  
     Usage: Law, Statute, Common law, Regulation, Edict,
            Decree. Law is generic, and, when used with
            reference to, or in connection with, the other words
            here considered, denotes whatever is commanded by one
            who has a right to require obedience. A statute is a
            particular law drawn out in form, and distinctly
            enacted and proclaimed. Common law is a rule of action
            founded on long usage and the decisions of courts of
            justice. A regulation is a limited and often,
            temporary law, intended to secure some particular end
            or object. An edict is a command or law issued by a
            sovereign, and is peculiar to a despotic government. A
            decree is a permanent order either of a court or of
            the executive government. See Justice.