Loven

Loven is the definite form of the noun lov in Danish and Norwegian, meaning "the law." In both languages, lov denotes law in a general sense, while the definite form loven is used to refer to a specific statute or to the body of law as a whole. The term frequently appears in statutes, court decisions, and legal commentary, and is common in phrases such as "loven sier at ..." or "loven gjelder."

As a proper noun, Loven is also encountered as a surname in Nordic contexts and may appear as a place name in rare cases. These uses are considerably less common than its linguistic function as a form of the word for law.

Etymology and usage: In Danish and Norwegian, lov means law, and the definite form loven is created by the standard definite suffix -en. The word belongs to the West Germanic family of legal terms, with cognates and related forms across Germanic languages. In translation to English, loven is typically rendered as "the law" and can denote either a specific statute or the legal system as a whole.

See also: law, statutes, legal codes.