an |
1. art. Form of a used before a vowel sound | |
2. art. (now quite rare) Form of a used before 'h' in an unstressed syllable | |
3. art. (nonstandard) Form of a used before 'h' in a stressed syllable | |
4. conj. (archaic) If | |
5. conj. (archaic) So long as. | |
An it harm none, do what ye will. | |
6. conj. (archaic) As if; as though. | |
7. n. The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri). | |
8. prep. In each; to or for each; per. | |
I was only going twenty miles an hour. | |
instance |
1. n. (obsolete) Urgency of manner or words; an urgent request; insistence. | |
2. n. (obsolete) A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. | |
It sends some precious instance of itself/ After the thing it loves. Hamlet IV. v. ca. 1602 | |
3. n. (obsolete) That which is urgent; motive. | |
4. n. Occasion; order of occurrence. | |
5. n. A case offered as an exemplification or a precedent; an illustrative example. | |
6. n. One of a series of recurring occasions, cases, essentially the same. | |
7. n. (obsolete) A piece of evidence; a proof or sign (of something). | |
8. n. (computing) In object-oriented programming: a created object, one that has had memory allocated for local data storage; an instantiation of a class. | |
9. n. (massively multiplayer online games) A dungeon or other area that is duplicated for each player, or each party of players, that enters it, so that each player or party has a private copy of the area | |
10. n. (massively multiplayer online games) An individual copy of such a dungeon or other area. | |
11. v. To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite | |
to instance a fact | |
12. v. (intransitive) To cite an example as proof; to exemplify. | |
of |
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion. | |
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off". | |
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.). | |
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.). | |
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage. | |
5. prep. (North America, Scotland, Ireland) Before (the hour); to. | |
What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three. | |
6. prep. Expressing separation. | |
7. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.) | |
Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband. | |
8. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.) | |
He seemed devoid of human feelings. | |
9. prep. (obsolete) (Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.) | |
10. prep. Expressing origin. | |
11. prep. (Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.) | |
The word is believed to be of Japanese origin. | |
12. prep. (Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation); from, out of, as an expression of. | |
The invention was born of necessity. | |
13. prep. (following an intransitive verb) (Indicates the source or cause of the verb.) | |
It is said that she died of a broken heart. | |
14. prep. (following an adjective) (Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.) | |
I am tired of all this nonsense. | |
15. prep. Expressing agency. | |
16. prep. (following a passive verb) (Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).) | |
I am not particularly enamoured of this idea. | |
17. prep. (Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase) (see also 'Possession' senses below). | |
The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties. | |
18. prep. (following an adjective) (Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.) | |
It was very brave of you to speak out like that. | |
19. prep. Expressing composition, substance. | |
20. prep. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) (Used to indicate the material or substance used.) | |
Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic. | |
21. prep. (directly following a noun) (Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.) | |
She wore a dress of silk. | |
22. prep. (Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.) | |
What a lot of nonsense! | |
23. prep. (Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.) | |
Welcome to the historic town of Harwich. | |
24. prep. (Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second); "which is also". | |
I'm not driving this wreck of a car. | |
25. prep. Introducing subject matter. | |
26. prep. (Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-ma | |
I'm always thinking of you. | |
27. prep. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) (Introduces its subject matter); about, concerning. | |
He told us the story of his journey to India. | |
28. prep. (following an adjective) (Introduces its subject matter.) | |
This behaviour is typical of teenagers. | |
29. prep. Having partitive effect. | |
30. prep. (following a number or other quantitive word) (Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment); "from among". | |
Most of these apples are rotten. | |
31. prep. (following a noun) (Indicates a given part.) | |
32. prep. (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of. | |
On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort. | |
33. prep. (Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).) | |
He is a friend of mine. | |
34. prep. Expressing possession. | |
35. prep. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above. | |
He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century. | |
36. prep. Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it. | |
The owner of the nightclub was arrested. | |
37. prep. Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; (the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this inter | |
Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames. | |
38. prep. Forming the "objective genitive". | |
39. prep. (Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.) | |
She had a profound distrust of the police. | |
40. prep. Expressing qualities or characteristics. | |
41. prep. (now archaic, or literary) (Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier); in respect to, as regards. | |
My companion seemed affable and easy of manner. | |
42. prep. (Indicates a quality or characteristic); "characterized by". | |
Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain. | |
43. prep. (Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.) | |
We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%. | |
44. prep. (US, informal considered incorrect by some) (Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives mod | |
It's not that big of a deal. | |
45. prep. Expressing a point in time. | |
46. prep. (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. | |
Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river. | |
47. prep. (UK dialectal, chiefly in negative constructions) For (a given length of time). | |
I've not tekken her out of a goodly long while. | |
48. prep. (after a noun) (Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.) | |
After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off. | |
such |
1. det. (demonstrative) Like this, that, these, those; used to make a comparison with something implied by context. | |
I’ve never seen such clouds in the sky before. Such is life. | |
2. det. (particularly used in formal documents) Any. | |
the above address or at such other address as may notify | |
3. det. Used as an intensifier; roughly equivalent to very much of. | |
The party was such a bore. | |
4. det. (obsolete) A certain; representing the object as already particularized in terms which are not mentioned. | |
5. pron. A person, a thing, people or things like the one or ones already mentioned. | |
6. n. (philosophy) Something being indicated that is similar to something else. | |
a |
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group. | |
There was a man here looking for you yesterday. | |
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word. | |
I've seen it happen a hundred times. | |
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003) | |
We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London. | |
4. art. The same; one. | |
We are of a mind on matters of morals. | |
5. art. Any, every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope; also used with a negative to indicate not a single one.Lindberg, Christine A. (2007) | |
A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties. | |
He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head? | |
6. art. Used before plural nouns modified by few, good many, couple, great many, etc. | |
7. art. Someone or something like; similar to; Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it. | |
The center of the village was becoming a Times Square. | |
8. prep. (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto. | |
Stand a tiptoe. | |
9. prep. To do with separation; In, into. | |
Torn a pieces. | |
10. prep. To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by. | |
I brush my teeth twice a day. | |
11. prep. (obsolete) To do with method; In, with. | |
12. prep. (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In. | |
A God’s name. | |
13. prep. To do with status; In. | |
King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18) | |
To set the people a worke. | |
14. prep. (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing. | |
1964, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’ | |
The times, they are a-changin'. | |
15. prep. (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in. | |
1611, King James Bible, Hebrews 11-21 | |
Jacob, when he was a dying | |
16. prep. (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into. | |
17. v. (archaic, or slang) Have. | |
I'd a come, if you'd a asked. | |
18. pron. (obsolete, outside, England, and Scotland dialects) He. | |
19. interj. A meaningless syllable; ah. | |
20. prep. (archaic, slang) Of. | |
The name of John a Gaunt. | |
21. adv. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
22. adj. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
right |
1. adj. (archaic) Straight, not bent. | |
a right line | |
2. adj. (geometry) Of an angle, having a size of 90 degrees, or one quarter of a complete rotation; the angle between two perpendicular lines. | |
The kitchen counter formed a right angle with the back wall. | |
3. adj. (geometry) Of a geometric figure, incorporating a right angle between edges, faces, axes, etc. | |
a right triangle, a right prism, a right cone | |
4. adj. Complying with justice, correctness or reason; correct, just, true. | |
I thought you'd made a mistake, but it seems you were right all along. | |
It's not right that one person gets all the credit for the group's work. | |
5. adj. Appropriate, perfectly suitable; fit for purpose. | |
Is this the right software for my computer? | |
6. adj. Healthy, sane, competent. | |
I'm afraid my father is no longer in his right mind. | |
7. adj. Real; veritable (used emphatically). | |
You've made a right mess of the kitchen! | |
8. adj. (Australia) All right; not requiring assistance. | |
9. adj. (dated) Most favourable or convenient; fortunate. | |
10. adj. Designating the side of the body which is positioned to the east if one is facing north. This arrow points to the right: → | |
After the accident, her right leg was slightly shorter than her left. | |
11. adj. Designed to be placed or worn outward. | |
the right side of a piece of cloth | |
12. adj. (politics) Pertaining to the political right; conservative. | |
13. adv. On the right side. | |
14. adv. Towards the right side. | |
15. adv. Exactly, precisely. | |
The arrow landed right in the middle of the target. | |
Luckily we arrived right at the start of the film. | |
16. adv. Immediately, directly. | |
Can't you see it? It's right beside you! | |
Tom was standing right in front of the TV, blocking everyone's view. | |
17. adv. (UK, US, dialect) Very, extremely, quite. | |
I made a right stupid mistake there, didn't I? | |
I stubbed my toe a week ago and it still hurts right much. | |
18. adv. According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really. | |
19. adv. In a correct manner. | |
Do it right or don't do it at all. | |
20. adv. (dated, still used in some titles) To a great extent or degree. | |
Sir, I am right glad to meet you … | |
Members of the Queen's Privy Council are styled The Right Honourable for life. | |
The Right Reverend Monsignor Guido Sarducci. | |
21. interj. Yes, that is correct; I agree. | |
22. interj. I agree with whatever you say; I have no opinion. | |
23. interj. Signpost word to change the subject in a discussion or discourse. | |
- After that interview, I don't think we should hire her.- Right — who wants lunch? | |
24. interj. Used to check agreement at the end of an utterance. | |
You're going, right? | |
25. interj. Used to add seriousness or decisiveness before a statement. | |
26. n. That which complies with justice, law or reason. | |
We're on the side of right in this contest. | |
27. n. A legal, just or moral entitlement. | |
You have no right to go through my personal diary. | |
see also in right of | |
28. n. The right side or direction. | |
The pharmacy is just on the right past the bookshop. | |
29. n. The right hand. | |
30. n. (politics) The ensemble of right-wing political parties; political conservatives as a group. | |
The political right holds too much power. | |
31. n. The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc. | |
32. v. To correct. | |
Righting all the wrongs of the war immediately will be impossible. | |
33. v. To set upright. | |
The tow-truck righted what was left of the automobile. | |
34. v. (intransitive) To return to normal upright position. | |
When the wind died down, the ship righted. | |
35. v. To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of. | |
to right the oppressed | |
of |
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion. | |
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off". | |
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.). | |
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.). | |
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage. | |
5. prep. (North America, Scotland, Ireland) Before (the hour); to. | |
What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three. | |
6. prep. Expressing separation. | |
7. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.) | |
Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband. | |
8. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.) | |
He seemed devoid of human feelings. | |
9. prep. (obsolete) (Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.) | |
10. prep. Expressing origin. | |
11. prep. (Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.) | |
The word is believed to be of Japanese origin. | |
12. prep. (Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation); from, out of, as an expression of. | |
The invention was born of necessity. | |
13. prep. (following an intransitive verb) (Indicates the source or cause of the verb.) | |
It is said that she died of a broken heart. | |
14. prep. (following an adjective) (Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.) | |
I am tired of all this nonsense. | |
15. prep. Expressing agency. | |
16. prep. (following a passive verb) (Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).) | |
I am not particularly enamoured of this idea. | |
17. prep. (Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase) (see also 'Possession' senses below). | |
The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties. | |
18. prep. (following an adjective) (Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.) | |
It was very brave of you to speak out like that. | |
19. prep. Expressing composition, substance. | |
20. prep. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) (Used to indicate the material or substance used.) | |
Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic. | |
21. prep. (directly following a noun) (Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.) | |
She wore a dress of silk. | |
22. prep. (Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.) | |
What a lot of nonsense! | |
23. prep. (Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.) | |
Welcome to the historic town of Harwich. | |
24. prep. (Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second); "which is also". | |
I'm not driving this wreck of a car. | |
25. prep. Introducing subject matter. | |
26. prep. (Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-ma | |
I'm always thinking of you. | |
27. prep. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) (Introduces its subject matter); about, concerning. | |
He told us the story of his journey to India. | |
28. prep. (following an adjective) (Introduces its subject matter.) | |
This behaviour is typical of teenagers. | |
29. prep. Having partitive effect. | |
30. prep. (following a number or other quantitive word) (Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment); "from among". | |
Most of these apples are rotten. | |
31. prep. (following a noun) (Indicates a given part.) | |
32. prep. (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of. | |
On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort. | |
33. prep. (Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).) | |
He is a friend of mine. | |
34. prep. Expressing possession. | |
35. prep. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above. | |
He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century. | |
36. prep. Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it. | |
The owner of the nightclub was arrested. | |
37. prep. Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; (the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this inter | |
Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames. | |
38. prep. Forming the "objective genitive". | |
39. prep. (Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.) | |
She had a profound distrust of the police. | |
40. prep. Expressing qualities or characteristics. | |
41. prep. (now archaic, or literary) (Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier); in respect to, as regards. | |
My companion seemed affable and easy of manner. | |
42. prep. (Indicates a quality or characteristic); "characterized by". | |
Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain. | |
43. prep. (Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.) | |
We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%. | |
44. prep. (US, informal considered incorrect by some) (Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives mod | |
It's not that big of a deal. | |
45. prep. Expressing a point in time. | |
46. prep. (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. | |
Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river. | |
47. prep. (UK dialectal, chiefly in negative constructions) For (a given length of time). | |
I've not tekken her out of a goodly long while. | |
48. prep. (after a noun) (Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.) | |
After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off. | |
inheritance |
1. n. The passing of title to an estate upon death. | |
2. n. That which a person is entitled to inherit, by law or testament. | |
3. n. (esp. linguistics, biology) The act or mechanism of inheriting; the state of having inherited | |
The Indo-European languages share various similarities as a result of their inheritance from a common ancestor. | |
4. n. (biology, genetic algorithms) The biological attributes passed hereditarily from ancestors to their offspring. | |
5. n. (programming, object-oriented) The mechanism whereby parts of a superclass are available to instances of its subclass. | |
established |
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of establish | |
2. adj. Having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted. | |
3. adj. Of a religion, church etc.: formally recognized by a state as being official within that area. | |
4. adj. (Model, procedure, disease) Explicitly defined, described or recognized as a reference. | |
establish |
1. v. To make stable or firm; to confirm. | |
2. v. To form; to found; to institute; to set up in business. | |
3. v. To appoint or adopt, as officers, laws, regulations, guidelines, etc.; to enact; to ordain. | |
4. v. To prove and cause to be accepted as true; to establish a fact; to demonstrate. | |
by |
1. prep. Near or next to. | |
The mailbox is by the bus stop. | |
2. prep. At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval. | |
Be back by ten o'clock! We will send it by the first week of July. | |
3. prep. Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice: Through the action or presence of. | |
The matter was decided by the chairman. The boat was swamped by the water. He was protected by his body armour. | |
4. prep. Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of. | |
There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare | |
5. prep. Indicates the cause of a condition or event: Through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of. | |
6. prep. Indicates a means: Involving/using the means of. | |
I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking. | |
7. prep. Indicates a source of light used as illumination. | |
The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight. | |
8. prep. Indicates an authority, rule, or permission followed. | |
I sorted the items by category. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. | |
9. prep. Indicates the amount of some progression: With a change of. | |
Our stock is up by ten percent. | |
10. prep. In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another. | |
We went through the book page by page. We crawled forward by inches. | |
11. prep. Indicates a referenced source: According to. | |
He cheated by his own admission. | |
12. prep. Indicates an oath: With the authority of. | |
By Jove! I think she's got it! By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this. | |
13. prep. Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something. | |
It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix. The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot. The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm. | |
14. prep. (horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of. | |
She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress. | |
15. adv. Along a path which runs by the speaker. | |
I watched as it passed by. | |
16. adv. In the vicinity, near. | |
There was a shepherd close by. | |
The shop is hard by the High Street. | |
17. adv. To or at a place, as a residence or place of business. | |
I'll stop by on my way home from work. | |
We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave. | |
18. adv. Aside, away. | |
The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring. | |
19. adj. Out of the way, subsidiary. | |
20. n. (card games) A pass | |
21. interj. alternative spelling of bye | |
custom |
1. n. Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving. | |
2. n. Traditional beliefs or rituals | |
3. n. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support. | |
4. n. (legal) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription. | |
5. n. (obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity. | |
6. n. The customary toll, tax, or tribute. | |
7. adj. Created under particular specifications, specially to fit one's needs: specialized, unique, custom-made | |
My feet are as big as powerboats, so I need custom shoes. | |
8. adj. Own, personal, not standard or premade | |
We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo. | |
9. adj. (archaic) accustomed; usual | |
10. adj. See also: Thesaurus:custom-made | |
11. v. (obsolete, transitive) To make familiar; to accustom. | |
12. v. (obsolete, transitive) To supply with customers. | |
13. v. (obsolete, transitive) To pay the customs of. | |
14. v. (obsolete, intransitive) To have a custom. | |
* On a bridge he custometh to fight. Edmund Spenser. | |
or |
1. conj. Connects at least two alternative words, phrases, clauses, sentences, etc. each of which could make a passage true. In English, this is the "inclusive or." The "exclusive or" is formed by "either(...) | |
In Ohio, anyone under the age of 18 who wants a tattoo or body piercing needs the consent of a parent or guardian. | |
He might get cancer, or be hit by a bus, or God knows what. | |
2. conj. (logic) An operator denoting the disjunction of two propositions or truth values. There are two forms, the inclusive or and the exclusive or. | |
3. conj. Counts the elements before and after as two possibilities. | |
4. conj. Otherwise (a consequence of the condition that the previous is false). | |
It's raining! Come inside or you'll catch a cold! | |
5. conj. Connects two equivalent names. | |
The country Myanmar, or Burma | |
6. n. (logic, electronics) alternative form of OR | |
7. n. (tincture) The gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms. | |
8. adj. (tincture) Of gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms. | |
9. adv. (obsolete) Early (on). | |
10. adv. (obsolete) Earlier, previously. | |
11. prep. (now archaic, or dialect) Before; ere. | |
law |
1. n. The body of binding rules and regulations, customs and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities. | |
the courts interpret the law; entrapment is against the law | |
2. n. The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic. | |
property law; commercial hunting and fishing law | |
3. n. Common law, as contrasted with equity. | |
4. n. A binding regulation or custom established in a community in this way. | |
There is a law against importing wallabies. A new law forbids driving on that road. The court ruled that the executive order was not law and nullified it. | |
5. n. (more generally) (A rule, such as:) | |
6. n. Any rule that must or should be obeyed, concerning behaviours and their consequences. (Compare mores). | |
"Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you" is a good law to follow. the law of self-preservation | |
7. n. A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art. | |
the laws of playwriting and poetry | |
8. n. A statement (in physics, etc) of an (observed, established) order or sequence or relationship of phenomena which is invariable under certain conditions | |
the laws of thermodynamics | |
Newton's third law of motion states that to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. This is one of several laws derived from | |
9. n. (mathematics, logic) A statement (of relation) that is true under specified conditions; a mathematical or logical rule. | |
Mathematical laws can be proved purely through mathematics, without scientific experimentation. | |
10. n. Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences. | |
the law of scarcity; the law of supply and demand | |
11. n. (cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC. | |
12. n. The control and order brought about by the observance of such rules. | |
They worked to maintain law and order. It was a territory without law, marked by violence. | |
13. n. (informal) A person or group that act(s) with authority to uphold such rules and order (for example, one or more police officers). | |
Here comes the law — run! | |
14. n. The profession that deals with such rules (as lawyers, judges, police officers, etc). | |
He is studying for a career in law. She has practiced law in New York for twenty years. | |
15. n. Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules. | |
She went to university to study law. | |
16. n. Litigation, legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc). | |
They were quick to go to law. | |
17. n. (now uncommon) An allowance of distance or time (a head start) given to a weaker (human or animal) competitor in a race, to make the race more fair. | |
18. n. (fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos. | |
19. n. (legal, chiefly historical) An oath sworn before a court, especially disclaiming a debt. (Chiefly in the phrases "wager of law)", "(m", "perform one's law", "lose one's law".) | |
20. v. (obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law. | |
21. v. (ambitransitive, chiefly dialectal) To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate. | |
22. v. (nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; govern. | |
23. v. (informal) To enforce the law. | |
24. v. To subject to legal restrictions. | |
25. n. (obsolete) A tumulus of stones. | |
26. n. (Scottish, and Northern England, archaic) A hill. | |
27. interj. (dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks. | |