law
A system of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions.
Etymology
From Old English lagu, borrowed from Old Norse lǫg (plural of lag "layer, something laid down"), from Proto-Germanic *lagą, from PIE *legʰ- "to lie down, to lay." A law is literally "something laid down" — a regulation set in place. Note: this is distinct from PIE *leǵ- "to collect, read" (which gave Latin legere and English "legal"). The Norse origin reflects the Danelaw's legal influence on English.
The Journey: *legʰ- → law
*legʰ-
*lagą
lǫg
lagu
law
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *legʰ-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Latin | lēx (from *leǵ- to gather) |
| Gothic | lagjan (to lay) |
| Swedish | lag |
| Old Norse | lǫg |
| Old High German | laga |
Did You Know?
English "law" came from Norse settlers during the Danelaw period (9th-10th centuries). The Norse word literally meant "things laid down" — decisions collectively placed before the assembly. "Bylaw" comes from Old Norse bȳ-lǫg "town law."
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *legʰ-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.