law

Where does the word "law" come from? It comes from Old Norse lagu, and was adopted directly into English (1000s).

Law’s story begins in Old Norse: lagu meant “something laid down, a rule.” Literally something laid down, a rule fixed by authority. It reached English by 1000s as law. Settled as the English word for a binding rule of conduct. Today, law means a system of rules a community recognizes as binding.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval lagu "something laid down, a rule", literally something laid down, a rule fixed by authority.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1000s law "a binding rule of conduct", settled as the English word for a binding rule of conduct.