STATUTE

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estatut, from Late Latin statutum law, regulation, from Latin, neuter of statutus, past participle of statuere to set up, station, from status position, state Date: 14th century a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government, an act of a corporation or of its founder intended as a permanent rule, an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority, see: law