outlaw
/ˈaʊt.lɔː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈaʊt.lɑː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ/ (ame, mw) · /ˈaʊtlɔː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈaʊtlɔː/ (ame, ipa)
outlaw — noun
- outlawsingular
- outlawsplural
1. especially in earlier times, a criminal who stayed away from normal society whil
especially in earlier times, a criminal who stayed away from normal society while trying to avoid being caught.
The outlaw hid in the hills above the mining town.
pattern: the outlaw + action
Children in the play chased an outlaw across the wooden bridge.
For years, the outlaw slept in caves and stole horses.
The newspaper called Rosa an outlaw after the bank robbery.
Villagers feared the outlaw who rode through the valley at night.
- law-abiding citizen
someone who follows the law instead of breaking it
文法句型
an outlaw
hunt an outlaw
live as an outlaw
用法筆記
Often brings to mind older stories about robbers on the run. Distinguish it from a mere rebel or nonconformist: this core sense refers to someone treated as a real criminal.
常見錯誤
outlaw — verb
- outlawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- outlawshe / she / it
- outlawedpast simple
- outlawing-ing form
1. to forbid something by law or official rule so that people are not allowed to do
to forbid something by law or official rule so that people are not allowed to do it.
The city outlawed smoking in taxis after several health complaints.
outlaw + activity by law or rule
Parliament outlawed ivory sales after years of public pressure.
The new law would outlaw fake medicine sold online.
By 2005, bear shows were outlawed in the whole state.
Several countries outlawed animal fights to protect pets.
- ban
is the broad everyday word and is not always tied to law
- prohibit
is more formal and common in notices or rules
- criminalize
specifically means making an act a crime
文法句型
outlaw + activity / product / behavior
be outlawed
用法筆記
The object is usually an action, practice, or product, not a person. This is the normal modern verb sense; verb/2 is a historical legal use about declaring a person outside the law's protection.
常見錯誤
2. in older legal systems, to announce that someone had lost the law's protection a
in older legal systems, to announce that someone had lost the law's protection and could be chased or punished.
The king outlawed Sir Rowan after the failed attack.
historical: outlaw + person
In 1284, the court outlawed three men who missed trial.
Old records say the judge outlawed the brothers for murder.
By dawn, the rebels were outlawed and their land was taken.
After the hearing, the royal court outlawed Tomas for treason.
- pardon
means officially forgive a crime rather than punish the person further
文法句型
outlaw + person
be outlawed by the court
用法筆記
Historical legal language. The object is a person named by a court or ruler, unlike verb/1, where the object is usually an act or practice.