in general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode or order according to which an agent or a power acts.-in morals: the will of god as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.-the jewish or mosaic code, and that part of scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the old testament.-an organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.-any edict, decree, order, ordinance, statute, resolution, judicial, decision, usage, etc., or recognized, and enforced, by the controlling authority.-in philosophy and physics: a rule of being, operation, or change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will of god or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of cause and effect; law of self-preservation.-in matematics: the rule according to which anything, as the change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series, proceeds; mode or order of sequence.-in arts, works, games, etc.: the rules of construction, or of procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.-collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or emanating from one source; -- including usually the writings pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine law; english law; roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.-legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.-trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.-an oath, as in the presence of a court.-same as lawe, v. t.-an exclamation of mild surprise.