higher law
1
8.4
- noun
- /ˈhaɪər lɔ/
- Formal
:
ley superior
- In her speech, she emphasized the importance of a higher law that prioritizes human rights over political agendas.
John Brown believes in higher law, not man's law.
- John Brown believes in higher law, not man's law.
- There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil.
Examples
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Defenders of judicial policymaking often appeal to a "higher law" that they say can be better applied by courts than by political structures.
Academic text (1998) -
Activists often argue that there is a higher law that guides moral decisions beyond the confines of legislation.
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Sometimes a leader must listen to a higher law.
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There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil.
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John Brown believes in higher law, not man's law.
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He urged the delegates to achieve political liberty through the pursuit of this higher law.
Academic text (2010) -
Religion (at any rate, the Christian religion) subjects man to a higher law that cannot be legitimately transgressed on grounds of race, class, etc.
Blog text (8) -
There is a higher law that we are to follow that obligates us to assist the disabled (not the lazy), the widows, and the orphans, rather than special events such as disasters.
Blog text (20) -
The genuine role of higher law or norms, including constitutions, is to inform and guide argument, and thereby help provide more enlightened decisions by whatever decision-making mechanism the state employs.
Academic text (1998) -
As citizens, we sometimes feel a responsibility to uphold a higher law that transcends government regulations.
Synonyms
26
6.5
A set of moral rules that come from human nature and apply to everyone
How Overriding
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a principle or ethical rule regarded as overriding other laws' is directly derivable from combining 'high' (superior) with 'law' (rule): it literally denotes a law of greater authority. This compositional interpretation is regular and found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Higher law comes from the image of a rule that comes 'from above', like a law from God or nature. The word higher shows it sits above human rules and law means a rule, so it now means a moral rule 'more important than' the laws made by the government.