lex

Meaning

1. (declension-3) a proposition or motion for a law made to the people by a magistrate, a bill
2. (declension-3, figuratively) a bill which has become a law, a law, a statute
3. (declension-3, figuratively) a precept, regulation, principle, rule, mode, manner
4. (declension-3, figuratively) a contract, agreement, covenant
5. (declension-3, figuratively) a condition, stipulation, terms

Concepts

law

act

legislation

Torah

rule

deed

statute

Synonyms

ius

Translations

loi

Gesetz

ley

lei

legge

wet

llei

zagon

yasa

qanûn

νόμος

kanun

قَانُون

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈɫeːks]

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *lēks. The usual etymology derives the term from Proto-Indo-European *lēǵ-s, a root nomen actionis from *leǵ- (“to gather”), whence also legō.
Palmer (1906) proposes an alternative origin in Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-s, root nomen actionis from *legʰ- (“to lie, to be in resting position”). Compare with the semantics of English law, Russian уложе́ние (uložénije) from this root. This alternative etymology is endorsed by Fortson.