From 3rd Century BCE Latin lāres = "a group ancient Roman deities (gods) defining localized activities, customs and practices accumulated over time including (but not limited to) home, family, the state, the sea, land and travel";

12th Century Old English lārs = "a collection of common doctrines, customs and practices accumulated over time; and the teaching of such customs"; later

16th Century Middle English lore/law = "A collection of rules (doctrines), customs and practices (accumulated over time) enjoining or prohibiting certain action; also the individual rules themselves ".

Contrary to misleading information, the Ancient Roman Legal System never considered the customs of lāres as being other than religious doctrine and ancient superstitions (witchcraft). Instead, the Roman Empire was founded on lēx/lēgis (statutes) and later (under Constantine) ilex (universal statutes).

The modern western legal systems of nations are therefore based on inferior lāres --religious doctrines and concepts designed by the Roman Cult--while the Roman Cult reserved the formal structure of superior lēx/lēgis in the form of covenants and agreements such as Concordats, Official Church Councils and Papal Bulls.