unwritten, unwryten

[Pref. un- (1), and Eng. written.] 1. Not written; not reduced to writing; oral, traditional. "It [the Brehon law] is a rule of right, unwritten , but delivered by tradition."-Spenser: View of the State of Ireland. 2. Not distinctly expre ed, laid down, or formu lated, but generally understood and acknowledged as binding. "The fair unwritten rule that, the game started is the quarry of the gun nearest to it."- Field , Dec. 17, 1887. 3. Not written upon, blank; not containing writing. "A rude, unwritten blank."- South: Sermons. (Todd.) unwritten-law, s. Law: Lex non script a; the common law; law not formulated in, or inculcated from, written documents. "This unwritten or common law is properly distinguishable into three kinds: 1. General customs; which are the universal rule of the whole kingdom, and form the common law in its stricter signification. 2. Particular customs; which for the most part affect only the inhabitants of particular districts. 3. Certain particular laws; which by custom are adopted by particular courts." -Black stone: Comment., bk.i. (Introd., § 2.)