lex

[ leks ]

/ lɛks /

noun, plural le·ges [lee-jeez; Latin le-ges] /ˈli dʒiz; Latin ˈlɛ gɛs/.

law¹.

Nearby words

lewisohn, lewisson, lewiston, lewisville, lewy bodies, lex, lex loci, lex non scripta, lex scripta, lex talionis, lex.

Origin of lex

First recorded in 1490–1500, lex is from the Latin word lēx

Definition for lex (2 of 3)

lex.

lexical.

lexicon.

Definition for lex (3 of 3)

salus populi suprema lex esto

[ sah-loo s paw-poo-lee soo-prey-mah leks es-toh; English sey-luh s pop-yuh-lahy-soo-pree-muh leks es-toh ]

/ ˈsɑ lʊs ˈpɔ pʊˌli suˈpreɪ mɑ lɛks ˈɛs toʊ; English ˈseɪ ləs ˈpɒp yəˌlaɪ sʊˈpri mə lɛks ˈɛs toʊ /

Latin.

let the welfare of the people be the supreme law: a motto of Missouri.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lex

The co-owner of Metropolis Collectables, Vincent has Wolverine mutton chops, a Tony Stark goatee, and Lex Luthor swagger.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con|Sujay Kumar|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, it seems to be packed with incompetents who make the Watergate burglars look like Lex Luthor.
Mississippi Tea Party Goes Watergate|Ben Jacobs|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lex Fajardo, creator of the graphic novel series Kid Beowulf, really likes Loki, too.
How Marvel’s Loki Became A Bi-curious Villain|Sujay Kumar|November 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Bryan Cranston has reportedly been cast as Lex Luthor in a Man of Steel sequel.
Bryan Cranston As Lex Luthor, Madonna Tops Highest Paid Celebs List|Culture Team|August 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Thankfully, neither iteration relies on lazy storylines involving kryptonite or Lex Luthor (at least not yet).
‘Man of Steel’ Is Fun to Watch, But It’s Still a Failure. Here’s Why.|Sujay Kumar|June 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the Lex Falkenhayn was a great invention, and did what was claimed for it—it got the government out of the frying-pan.
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
The lex Julia was followed by a series of acts of legislation extending and modifying its provisions.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5|Various
Lex talionis is the oldest kind of law and the most deeply rooted in human nature.
The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals|Edmund P. Evans
The free states received from Rome a charter of privileges (lex data) which, however, the Roman senate might at any time revoke.
The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyer's Standpoint, Vol. II (of II)|Walter M. Chandler
I should translate them, liber judicum, the Judges book; or lex judicum, the Judges law or rule.
A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings|Noah Webster

British Dictionary definitions for lex

lex

/ (lɛks) /

noun plural leges (ˈliːdʒiːz)

a system or body of laws

a particular specified law

Word Origin for lex

Latin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012