▪ I. ˈunlaw, n.
[OE. unlaᵹu (un-1 12), = ON. {uacu}lög (pl.), Icel. ólög, Norw. ulag, Sw. olag, MDa. ulog (Da. ulov).]
1. Illegal action; illegality.
After the early 14th cent. only in occasional Sc. use, but revived by recent writers.
| 1008 Laws Ethelred (Lieberm.) I. 236 Þæt man rihta laᵹe up-arære & ælce unlaᵹa ᵹeorne afylle. a 1200 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 195 Ich nelle suððen ðat man hym eny unlawe beode. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9705 Ȝuf..eni man made is apel, ȝuf me dude him vnlawe. a 1300 Cursor M. 19196 Þe lauerd þat bidd þe man wit-stand, Vnlau it es to tell in land. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 8795 Ȝyf þou dedyst euer þat vnlawe, A man oute of holy cherche to drawe. 1318 Sc. Acts Parlt. (1844) I. 471 Torth & noun raysoun quod dicitur wrang et unlaw. 14.. Ibid. 347/2 Bot þai hald na court of lyfe and lym bot of jniur and vnreson þat is to say wrang and vnlaw. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. I, 23 Sa lang as he or his preloquutour defends tort and non reason, that is, wrang and vnlach (that is to haue done na iniurie, nor vnreason agains the Law). |
| 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. xxi. IV. 620 This state of things was what our fathers called unlaw. 1876 Ibid. xxii. V. 52. 1881 Pusey (title), Unlaw in Judgements of the Judicial Committee of Privy Council. 1883 Bp. E. H. Browne Serm. Reading Congress 15 The conflict between law and unlaw, between Christianity and irreligion. |
† b. An evil custom or habit. Obs.—1
| a 1225 Juliana 72 Bireowseð ower sunnen,..leaueð ower unlahen. |
† 2. Sc. A fine or amercement; a penalty. Obs.
| 1424 Sc. Acts, Jas. I (1814) II. 5/1 Quha sa euer be conuickit.., he sall pay xl. s. for þe vnlaw. 1459 in Laing Charters (1899) 37 Syndry unlawis amerciamentis and all uther fautis. 1496 Acta Dom. Conc. II. 2 Ane unlaw of xl s. 1541 Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 65 The baxstaris for thair falt salbe punist..with viii s. of vnlaw. 1613 in Northern N. & Q. I. 74 Under the payne of ane vnlaw of ane pound Fleymis. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xix. §15 The Unlaw to be ten Pound. 1732 J. Louthian Form of Process 273 Fines, Amerciaments, or Unlaws inflicted upon Offenders,..are sometimes ordained wholly to be paid to the King. 1767 in Craig & Laing Hawick Tradition (1898) 243 [He] is not worth the King's unlaw, being on the Parish Roll or Poors List. |
▪ II. unlaw, v.
[f. prec., or un-2 3, 7.]
† 1. trans. (also absol.) To fine, amerce. Sc. Obs.
| 14.. in Sc. Acts Parlt. (1844) I. 710/2 Item..to his [sc. the justice's] clerk for jlk man vnlawit or sald, ij s. 1491 [see the vbl. n.]. 1508 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 244/2 That nane of ȝow presume to call, geif sentence, unlaw,..the said Johnne. 1564 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 307 [He] wes unlawit in the soum..of ane thowsand markis. 1613 in R. M. Fergusson A. Hume (1899) 199 The counsall..have..unlawit the said Adam..for his said offence. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. ii. xiii. §3 A Barron may unlaw for Absence, for ten Pounds. 1710 in J. J. Vernon Par. & Kirk Hawick (1900) 203 [They] were each of them..fyned and onlawed in egregious ryotts. 1732 J. Louthian Form of Process 295 The several Sheriff Deputes,..if any be absent,..are unlawed in 100 Merks each. |
† b. intr. To pay a fine. Obs.—1
| 1692 in W. Hector Judic. Rec. Renfrew (1876) 54 Ilk ane o' them ought to unlaw to the Pror.-Fiscal. |
2. trans. To annul (a law). Also refl. rare.
| 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 76 That also..no law can possibly permit, that intends not to unlaw it self. 1654 Cromwell Sp. 12 Sept. (Carlyle), Of what assurance is a Law to prevent so great an evil, if it lie in the same Legislature to unlaw it again? |
Hence unˈlawing vbl. n.
| 1491 Acta Dom. Audit. (1839) 164/1 Þe vnlawing of þe said alexr. blare. 1511 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 351/2 That thai desist..fra all..unlawing, forfaltin and proceding agains the said David. 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xxvii. 213 The King hath a power of Lawing, and Unlawing in Christs kingdome. |