Obs. Forms: 1 æw, 1–3 æ, 2–3 e. [OE. æ, æw, cogn. w. OS. êo, OFris. ewa, êwe, ê, â, OHG. êêwa, êha, êa, ê; Skr. ewa course.] Law, especially the law of nature, or of God; hence, legal custom, rite, marriage.

1

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John xv. 25. In æ hiora awriten is.

2

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., ibid. On hyra æ awriten ys.

3

[c. 1160.  Hatton Gosp., ibid. On heora laga ys awritan.]

4

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 227. Þes cenne god sælde and ȝesette æ [vel laga].

5

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 89. Ðreo tiden beoð on þissere worlde. An is þet wes buten e, and oðer is þe þet wes under þere e, þe þridde is nu … we ne beoð na buten e, ne we ne moten holden moyses e licamliche.

6

c. 1200.  Ormul., 145. Þatt hemm wass sett þurth Godess æ.

7

  Comb. æu-breche, EAU-BRECHE, adultery.

8