statute

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statute

a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government: The maximum allowable speed was established by statute.

Not to be confused with:

statue – image of human or animal carved in marble or bronze: There is a statue of the local hero in the center of town.

stature – height or uprightness: He was of unusual stature.

stat·ute

(stăch′o͞ot)

1. A law enacted by a legislature.

2. A decree or edict, as of a ruler.

[Middle English, from Old French estatut, from Late Latin statūtum, from neuter of Latin statūtus, past participle of statuere, to set up, from status, position; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

statute

(ˈstætjuːt)

1. (Law)

a. an enactment of a legislative body expressed in a formal document

b. this document

2. (Law) a permanent rule made by a body or institution for the government of its internal affairs

[C13: from Old French estatut, from Late Latin statūtum, from Latin statuere to set up, decree, ultimately from stāre to stand]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

stat•ute

(ˈstætʃ ut, -ʊt)

n.

a. a formal enactment by a legislature.

b. a document setting forth such an enactment.

2. an instrument annexed to an international agreement, as a treaty.

3. a permanent rule established by an organization, corporation, etc., to govern its internal affairs.

[1250–1300; Middle English statut < Old French estatut < Late Latin statūtum, n. use of neuter of Latin statūtus, past participle of statuere to make stand, set up, derivative of status status]

statute

A law that is passed by a legislature.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	statute - an act passed by a legislative body legislative act rider - a clause that is appended to a legislative bill act, enactment - a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body fair-trade act - formerly a state law that protected manufacturers from price-cutting by allowing them to set minimum retail prices for their merchandise; eliminated by the United States Congress in 1975 Stamp Act - an act passed by the British Parliament in 1756 that raised revenue from the American Colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents; opposition by the Colonies resulted in the repeal of the act in 1766 enabling act, enabling clause - a provision in a law that confers on appropriate officials the power to implement or enforce the law FISA, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act - an act passed by Congress in 1978 to establish procedures for requesting judicial authorization for foreign intelligence surveillance and to create the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; intended to increase United States counterintelligence; separate from ordinary law enforcement surveillance ordinance - a statute enacted by a city government special act - a legislative act that applies only to a particular person or particular district law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Adj.	1.	statute - enacted by a legislative body; "statute law"; "codified written laws" codified written - systematically collected and written down; "written laws"

statute

noun law, act, rule, regulation, decree, ordinance, enactment, edict a new statute to take in both pay and discrimination laws

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

statute

noun

The formal product of a legislative or judicial body:

act, assize, bill, enactment, law, legislation, lex, measure.

Translations

قانون

zákon

lov

põhikiri

lög

rašytinis įstatymasstatutas

statūtivalsts likums

lov

статут

kanun yasa

成文法法令法规

statute

[ˈstætjuːt]

A. N → ley f, estatuto m
by statute → según la ley, de acuerdo con la ley

B. CPD statute book N (esp Brit) → código m de leyes
in or on the statute book → en el código de leyes
statute law N → derecho m escrito

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

statute

[ˈstætʃuːt]

n (= law) → loi f statutes

npl [organization, institution] → statuts mplstatute book n (British) → code mstatute of limitations n (US) → délai m de prescription

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

statute

n → Gesetz nt; (of organization) → Satzung f, → Statut nt; by statute → gesetzlich, statutarisch, satzungsgemäß

statute

statute-barred

adj (US Jur) → verjährt

statute book

n (esp Brit) → Gesetzbuch nt; to put something on the statute → etw zum Gesetz machen or erheben; to be on the statute → geltendes Recht sein

statute law

n → Gesetzesrecht nt, → Statute Law nt

statute mile

n → britische Meile

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

statute

[ˈstætjuːt] n (law) → legge f, statuto

statute

(ˈstӕtjuːt) noun

a written law of a country.

References in classic literature ?

We are superstitious, and esteem the statute somewhat: so much life as it has in the character of living men is its force.

Nevertheless, by a higher law, the property will, year after year, write every statute that respects property.

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"You must know " said the Judge: but the Snark exclaimed "Fudge!" That statute is obsolete quite!

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"'Whereas, by a statute made in the reign of his imperial majesty Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted, that, whoever shall make water within the precincts of the royal palace, shall be liable to the pains and penalties of high-treason; notwithstanding, the said Quinbus Flestrin, in open breach of the said law, under colour of extinguishing the fire kindled in the apartment of his majesty's most dear imperial consort, did maliciously, traitorously, and devilishly, by discharge of his urine, put out the said fire kindled in the said apartment, lying and being within the precincts of the said royal palace, against the statute in that case provided, etc.

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The Vale "veasts" were not the common statute feasts, but much more ancient business.

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"They cannot be, sir, if they require a new statute to legalise them."

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The precise extent of the common law, and the statute law, the maritime law, the ecclesiastical law, the law of corporations, and other local laws and customs, remains still to be clearly and finally established in Great Britain, where accuracy in such subjects has been more industriously pursued than in any other part of the world.

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They were Agnes la Herme, Jehanne de la Tarme, Henriette la Gaultière, Gauchère la Violette, all four widows, all four dames of the Chapel Etienne Haudry, who had quitted their house with the permission of their mistress, and in conformity with the statutes of Pierre d'Ailly, in order to come and hear the sermon.

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The Grand Master began reading the statutes. They were very long, and Pierre, from joy, agitation, and embarrassment, was not in a state to understand what was being read.

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What say our statutes, and how do our brethren observe them?

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Thus, as the gods creep on with feet of wool, Long ere with iron hands they punish men, So shall our sleeping vengeance now arise, And smite with death thy hated enterprise.-- Lord Cardinals of France and Padua, Go forthwith to our holy consistory, And read, amongst the statutes decretal, What, by the holy council held at Trent, The sacred synod hath decreed for him That doth assume the Papal government Without election and a true consent: Away, and bring us word with speed.

View in context

I look round at our buildings, our statues, our pictures, our newspapers, our domestic interiors, our books, our vehicles, our morals, our manners, our statutes, and our religion, and I see his hand everywhere, for they were all made or modified to please him.