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# lawful

adjective (lawful)

«lawful» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Lawful means allowed by the law, legal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#m1)
2. Lawful can also mean obeying the law or right according to rules. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#m2)

### In the lessons

In citizenship and social studies lessons, lawful actions follow a country's laws; unlawful ones break them. In stories and games, a lawful character follows rules and respects order. Police must act in a lawful way too. Phrases: lawful owner, lawful right, lawful behaviour, lawful and unlawful.

### Examples

- It is lawful to ride a bike on this path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x1)
- The police must use only lawful methods. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x2)
- She is the lawful owner of the house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x3)
- Fishing here without a licence is not lawful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x4)
- Citizens have the lawful right to vote. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x5)
- In the story, the knight was lawful and fair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x6)
- The first care of Adrastus was to aid Polynices in regaining possession of his lawful share in the government of Thebes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/#x7)

### Note

A formal word; «legal» is more common. Opposite: «unlawful» or «illegal». Noun: law. Adverb: lawfully. Laws differ between countries, so something lawful in one country may be unlawful in another.

## In Jewish tradition

Here it means doing what is right under God's law, with justice and fairness.

**Interpretation.** Ezekiel teaches that each person is judged by his own deeds. A wicked person who turns back and does what is lawful and right will live.

### Examples

- But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, (Prophets EZK.18.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lawful/#x1)
- And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. (Prophets EZK.33.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lawful/#x2)
- When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all My statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. (Prophets EZK.18.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lawful/#x3)

### Note

A formal word; «legal» is more common. Opposite: «unlawful» or «illegal». Noun: law. Adverb: lawfully. Laws differ between countries, so something lawful in one country may be unlawful in another.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lawful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lawful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lawful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lawful.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «lawful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lawful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lawful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/lawful.html) on Mova free.