means A formal written law passed by a legislature, as opposed to one made by judges or by custom.

from From Latin statutum, 'something set up or established,' the neuter past participle of statuere, 'to set, place, or establish,' which itself grows from stare, 'to stand.' So a statute is literally a thing made to stand — a rule put on its feet and left there. The word reached English through Old French statut, and shares its standing root with relatives like 'statue,' 'status,' and 'stable.'