inlaw

I1N1L1A1W4
/ɪnˈlɔː//ˈɪnlɔː/

verb

To clear of outlawry or attainder, to return to the protection of the law

Opposite
UncommonScrabble 8

Meanings

inlaw1

verbinlaw (third-person singular simple present inlaws, present participle inlawing, simple past and past participle inlawed)

present singular third person inlaws · participle present inlawing · participle past inlawed · past inlawed

  1. UKhistoricaltransitivelawTo clear of outlawry or attainder, to return to the protection of the law
    1 more example

    The king, indignant that an attempt should be made to exempt the vast ecclesiastical lands from taxation at a time of national crisis, sequestrated the estates of the see of Canterbury, and copied John’s conduct in 1208 by outlawing the whole body of the clergy. Winchelsea in return excommunicated all those who refused to recognize the authority of the pope’s bull... Harassed by these domestic troubles, the king could not carry out his intention of sailing for Flanders in the spring, and spent the greater part of the campaigning season in wrangles with his subjects. He was obliged to come to a compromise. If the clergy would give him a voluntary gift, which was in no way to be considered a tax, he agreed to inlaw them.

    1911, Charles William Chadwick Oman, "English History", Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. IX, p. 497

inlaw2

nouninlaw (plural inlaws)

plural inlaws

  1. One who is within the domain or protection of the law.

    Antonyms: outlaw

inlaw3

nouninlaw (plural inlaws)

plural inlaws

  1. alternativeAlternative form of in-law.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounOne who is within the domain or protection of the law.

Opposite

Origin

inlaw · verb

  1. Old Englishinlagian
  2. Middle Englishinlawen
  3. Englishinlaw

From Middle English inlawen, inlaghen, from Old English inlagian, ġeinlagian (“to restore to the protection of the law, inlaw”), equivalent to in- + law.

Full word history & related roots →

inlaw · noun

  1. Middle Englishinlaghe
  2. Englishinlaw

From Middle English inlaghe, inlage, from the verb (see above).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with inlaw

All rhymes →

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

inlaw. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlaw

MLA

“inlaw.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlaw. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inlaw,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inlaw.

Source: inlaw on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.