Keith Mack
The phrase 'breaking the law' is used to describe someone who has failed to obey a law, or acted contrary to a law. The origin of the phrase is uncertain, but it is likely to be an ancient one. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The phrase is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | To fail to obey a law; to act contrary to a law |
| Example | "Lisa broke the law when she drove the wrong way on a one-way street" |
| Origin | Unknown, but likely ancient |
| Related terms | 'Interrupt' (15th century), 'lawbreaker' (15th century), 'lawless' (13th century) |
| Etymology | 'Break' comes from Old English 'brecan'; 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu' |
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What You'll Learn
- The phrase 'break the law' means to fail to obey a law
- The origin of the idiom is unknown, but it is likely to be ancient
- The word 'break' comes from Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'
- The term 'lawbreaker' originated in the 15th century
- 'Lawless' originated in the early 13th century
The phrase 'break the law' means to fail to obey a law
No one is certain about the origin of the idiom 'break the law', but it is likely to be ancient. The phrase is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The term 'lawbreaker' also originated in the 15th century, while 'lawless' originated in the early 13th century.
The phrase 'break the law' is often used in a legal context, for example, when discussing the actions of politicians or companies. It can also be used more generally to describe someone who has committed a crime or broken a rule. For example, a company might encourage its drivers to break the law by working excessive hours, or an individual might break the law by driving without insurance.
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The origin of the idiom is unknown, but it is likely to be ancient
The origin of the idiom 'break the law' is unknown, but it is likely to be ancient. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The phrase is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'. The term 'lawbreaker' also originated in the 15th century, while 'lawless' originated in the early 13th century.
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The word 'break' comes from Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'
No one is certain about the origin of the idiom 'break the law', however, it is more than likely an ancient one. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The term 'lawbreaker' originated in the 15th century, while the term 'lawless' originated in the early 13th century. 'Break the law' is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'.
The phrase 'break the law' means to fail to obey a law or to act contrary to a law. For example, "Lisa broke the law when she drove the wrong way on a one-way street".
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The term 'lawbreaker' originated in the 15th century
The term 'lawbreaker' first appeared in the 15th century, alongside other words such as 'blackacre', 'caretaker', 'clockmaker', 'dressmaker', 'filmmaker', 'homemaker', 'icebreaker', 'lawmaker', 'matchmaker', 'pacemaker', and 'partaker'. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The term 'lawbreaker' is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'. The term 'lawless' is older, having originated in the early 13th century.
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'Lawless' originated in the early 13th century
The phrase 'breaking the law' means to fail to obey a law, or to act contrary to a law. The origin of the idiom is uncertain, but it is likely to be ancient. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'. The term 'lawless' originated in the early 13th century, while the term 'lawbreaker' dates back to the 15th century. The 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right', is closely related to the phrase 'break the law'.
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Frequently asked questions
No one is certain about the origin of the idiom 'breaking the law', but it is likely to be an ancient one. The phrase is closely related to the 15th-century term 'interrupt', which originally meant 'to interfere with a legal right'.
To break the law means to fail to obey a law, or to act contrary to a law. For example, someone might break the law by driving without insurance.
The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', and the word 'law' comes from Old English 'lagu'.
