statute Look up statute at Dictionary.com
late 13c., from O.Fr. statut, from L.L. statutum "a law, decree," noun use of neuter pp. of L. statuere "enact, establish," from status "condition, position," from stare "to stand" from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Statutory first attested 1717; statutory rape, in U.S., "sexual intercourse with a female below the legal age of consent, whether forced or not," is recorded from 1898.