- A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement,
or authority.
- A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.
- Physics: A statement of a scientific fact or phenomenon that is invariable
under given conditions; e.g. → Newton’s law of gravitation,
→ second law of thermodynamics.
- Math.: A general principle deduced from particular facts expressed by
the statement that a particular phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present.
Etymology (EN): M.E., O.E. lagu, from O.N. *lagu, variant of lag
“that which is laid down;” cf. Ger. liegen, E. lay, lie;
PIE *legh- “To lie, lay;” compare with Hittite
laggari “falls, lies,” Gk. lekhesthai “to lie down,” L.
lectus “bed,” O.Ir. lige “bed, tomb,” Tokharian
lake, leke “bed.”
Etymology (PE): Qânun, from Ar., ultimately from Gk. kanon “rule.”
Arté, from O.Pers. arta- “law, justice;”
Av. arəta-, ərəta- “law, order,” variant aša-
“truth, cosmic order,” aipi-ərəta- “firmly assigned,”
from root ar- “to fix;”
cf. Skt. rtá- “truth, world order; oath;” Ossetci ard “oath;”
Gk. arthon “limb, articulation,” artus “a joint;”
L. artus “a joint;” PIE base *ar- “to join, to fit together.”
