[f. late L. lēgislātiōn-em, properly two words = ‘bringing of a law’ (lēgis, genitive of lēx law + lātiōn-em bringing: see LATION). Cf. F. législation.]
1. The action of making or giving laws; the enactment of laws, lawgiving; an instance of this.
a. 1655. J. Goodman, Winter Even. Conf., III. (1705), 116. Let me to intreat you to explain what you mean by this way of Divine Legislation.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. I. 213. Gods Legislation was a real Action; but the Law made doth not act at all.
1747. Ld. Lyttleton, Observ. Convers. Paul, 18. Pythagoras, who join’d Legislation to his Philosophy, and … pretended to Miracles … to give a more venerable Sanction to the Laws he prescribed.
1828. Caroline Fry, Script. Rdr.’s Guide, ix. 124. When the inspired historian tells his story of … the wars and legislations of other ages.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxiv. 395. Legislation, as we understand it, did not, in the ideas of those times, fill any prominent place among the duties of a king.
† 2. A legislative body, a legislature. Obs.
1693. Humours Town, 96. The Common-Council-Man is a Man of Authority, a Member of the City-Legislation.
3. The enactments of a legislator or legislature; the whole body of enacted laws.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, viii. I. 297. A legislation in which, as in that of Moses, religion is … the main element.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 137. The acts … are largely taken up with legislation affecting the national commerce.
Hence Legislational a., pertaining to legislation.
1829. Bentham, Justice & Cod. Petit., Abr. Petit. Justice, 22. A legislational proceeding.
