n.1 a written law passed by a legislative body, e.g. an Act of Parliament.
2 a rule of a corporation, founder, etc., intended to be permanent (against the University Statutes).
3 divine law (kept thy statutes).
Phrases and idioms:
statute-barred (of a case etc.) no longer legally enforceable by reason of the lapse of time. statute-book
1. a book or books containing the statute law.
2 the body of a country's statutes.
statute law
1. (collect.) the body of principles and rules of law laid down in statutes as distinct from rules formulated in practical application (cf. common law, case-law (see CASE(1))).
2 a statute. statute mile see MILE 1.
statute-roll
1. the rolls in the Public Records Office containing the statutes of the Parliament of England.
2 statute-book. statutes at large the statutes as originally enacted, regardless of later modifications.
Etymology: ME f. OF statut f. LL statutum neut. past part. of L statuere set up f. status: see STATUS