an act of the legislature of a state or country, declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something; a positive law; the written will of the legislature expressed with all the requisite forms of legislation; -- used in distinction fraom common law. see common law, under common, a.-an act of a corporation or of its founder, intended as a permanent rule or law; as, the statutes of a university.-an assemblage of farming servants (held possibly by statute) for the purpose of being hired; -- called also statute fair.