Law, interj. [Cf. La.] An exclamation of mild surprise. [Archaic or
Low]
Law"-a*bid`ing (?), a. Abiding the law; waiting for the operation of
law for the enforcement of rights; also, abiding by the law; obedient
to the law; as, law-abiding people.
Law"break`er (?), n. One who disobeys the law; a criminal. --
Law"break`ing, n. & a.
Lawe (?), v. t. [See 2d Lawing.] To cut off the claws and balls of, as
of a dog's fore feet. Wright.
Law"er (?), n. A lawyer. [Obs.] Bale.
Law"ful (?), a. 1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate;
competent.
2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of
lands.
Lawful age, the age when the law recognizes one's right of independent
action; majority; -- generally the age of twenty-one years.
In some of the States, and for some purposes, a woman attains lawful
age at eighteen. Abbott.
Syn. -- Legal; constitutional; allowable; regular; rightful. -- Lawful,
Legal. Lawful means conformable to the principle, spirit, or essence of
the law, and is applicable to moral as well as juridical law. Legal
means conformable to the letter or rules of the law as it is
administered in the courts; conformable to juridical law. Legal is
often used as antithetical to equitable, but lawful is seldom used in
that sense.
-- Law"ful*ly, adv. -- Law"ful*ness, n.
Law"giv`er (?), n. One who makes or enacts a law or system of laws; a
legislator.
Law"giv`ing, a. Enacting laws; legislative.
Law"ing, n. Going to law; litigation. Holinshed.
Law"ing, n. [So called because done in compliance with an English
forest law.] Expeditation. Blackstone.
Law"less, a. 1. Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal; as, a
lawless claim.
He needs no indirect nor lawless course.
Shak.
2. Not subject to, or restrained by, the law of morality or of society;
as, lawless men or behavior.