statutory English · revision 39740

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1675, G. Mackenzie|origins=la statuō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈstætjʊt(ə)ɹɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈstæt͡ʃəˌtɔɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OED, in its revised entry, takes it [[bor|la-med|statutorius]], recorded from 1552,^(OED 2026) formed on [[m|la|statūtus]], the past participle of [[m|la|statuō|t=to decree, enact]], the source of [[statute]], with the suffix that became [[-ory]].^(OED 2026) Other dictionaries treat it as formed in English from ''statute'' and ''-ory''.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The OED compares the earlier [[m|en|statutary]] and [[m|en|statutable]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Scottish use, of a clause or phrase that enacts a statute: 1675, in George Mackenzie,^(OED 2026) a sense the Shorter Oxford dates to the early 18th century^(SOED 2002) and Etymonline to 1717.^(Etymonline) The obsolete sense lasted until 1766.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The main sense, relating to, contained in or prescribed by a statute, is recorded from 1678, in the OED and Merriam-Webster,^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) but only from 1766 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Dictionary.com dates the word to 1710–20.^(Dictionary.com 2016) In the same year, also first in Scottish use, it was applied to crimes established by statute rather than by common law;^(OED 2026) ''statutory rape'' is recorded by 1873.^(Etymonline) In chiefly British extended use the adjective has meant "so customary as to seem compulsory" since 1822, in Walter Scott,^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) and since 1937 it has described a person included only for appearances, as the token woman on a committee.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1675 – (Scottish) enacting a statute.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1678 – relating to or prescribed by statute.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1678 – of a crime, established by statute.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1822 – customary, as if obligatory.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1873 – ''statutory rape''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1937 – of a person, included only for appearances.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to or contained in a [[statute]]: ''statutory law''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Required, permitted or regulated by law: ''a statutory minimum wage''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (law) Of an offence, defined by statute and punishable as the statute provides.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (chiefly British) So customary that it seems [[compulsory]]; also, included only for the sake of appearances.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[statutorily]]

+ * [[nonstatutory]]

+ * [[statutory law]]

+ * [[statutory rape]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[statute]]

+ * [[state]]

+ * [[stature]]

+ * [[constitute]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}