Is 'lawes' the correct plural of 'law' in modern English?

No. The standard modern plural is 'laws'. 'Lawes' is an archaic or dialectal form.

Where might I encounter the word 'lawes'?

Primarily in Early Modern English literature (e.g., works from the 1500s-1600s), historical documents, or in some regional dialects.

How do I pronounce 'lawes'?

It is pronounced identically to the modern word 'laws': /lɔːz/ in British English and /lɔz/ or /lɑz/ in American English.

Can I use 'lawes' in my essay to sound more scholarly?

No. Using archaic spellings in a modern context is incorrect and will be seen as an error, not a mark of scholarship.

lawes

Very Low

UK/lɔːz/US/lɔz/ or /lɑz/

Archaic / Historical / Dialectal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

An archaic or dialectal variant of the plural noun 'laws'; rules established by authority or custom.

In historical texts, can refer to specific statutes or codes, such as the 'Lawes of the Forest' or 'God's lawes'; in dialectal use, may appear as a non-standard plural.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Almost exclusively encountered in Early Modern English texts, historical documents, or regional dialects. Not used in contemporary standard English.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No contemporary difference. Historically, the '-es' plural was more common in Middle and Early Modern English, preceding standardisation. Modern UK/US both use 'laws'.

Connotations

Historical/antiquated; evokes texts like the 17th-century 'Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall'.

Frequency

Extremely rare in modern usage except in historical quotations or place names (e.g., Lawes, as a surname or location).

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

ancient lawesGod's lawesold lawesforest lawesking's lawes

medium

make laweskeep the lawesbreak the lawesby the lawes

weak

many lawessuch lawesthose lawesharsh lawes

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Subject] + obey/break + the lawesThe lawes + govern/prohibit + [Object]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

ordinancesedictsdecrees

Neutral

lawsstatutesrulesregulations

Weak

codesprinciplesprecepts

Vocabulary

Antonyms

lawlessnessanarchydisorderchaos

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“to have the lawes on someone (archaic)”
“to be a law unto oneself (modern equivalent)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not applicable.

Academic

Used in historical or literary studies when quoting original sources.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

May appear in legal history discussions.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The old book talked about the king's lawes.

In the past, the forest lawes were very strict.

The manuscript contained the ancient lawes of the realm, which few could now decipher.

Shakespeare's characters often grapple with divine lawes versus human justice.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Lawes' with an 'e' as belonging to an earlier 'Era' of English.

Conceptual Metaphor

LAWS ARE BOUNDARIES (The lawes marked the bounds of acceptable behaviour).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не переводите напрямую. Современный эквивалент - 'laws' (законы). 'Lawes' - историческая орфография.

Common Mistakes

Using 'lawes' in modern writing instead of 'laws'.
Mispronouncing it as /ˈlɔː.ɪz/ (two syllables).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In historical texts, you might find the phrase 'the of the land' spelled with an -es ending.

Multiple Choice

In which context would 'lawes' most appropriately be used today?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. The standard modern plural is 'laws'. 'Lawes' is an archaic or dialectal form.
: Primarily in Early Modern English literature (e.g., works from the 1500s-1600s), historical documents, or in some regional dialects.
: It is pronounced identically to the modern word 'laws': /lɔːz/ in British English and /lɔz/ or /lɑz/ in American English.
: No. Using archaic spellings in a modern context is incorrect and will be seen as an error, not a mark of scholarship.