He is a law unto himself is often condemnatory (he rides roughshod over our laws & conventions), whereas the near-synonymous He is his own man is more likely to be approving (he knows what he wants and what he thinks, and isn't easily swayed by others).
What are the differences between "unto" and "to"? It seems that in many contexts where the word "unto" is used, "to" could be substituted and would be perfectly correct. It reminds me of flammable/
Difference between "unto" and "to" - English Language & Usage Stack ...
Unto is obsolete in Present-Day English; in fact, it was already obsolescing in Early Modern English. Today it survives only in texts which try to reproduce the feel and authority of the King James Version of the Bible — which is why you find it employed in translating a religious text like the Bhagavad-Gita. Do not employ unto unless you are preaching a sermon.
word usage - When should I use "To" vs "Unto"? - English Language ...
Onto is English, whereas Unto is American English. The expression that sparked this was "climb unto a pedestal". I suggested that the proper expression was "climb onto a pedestal". While it was a pointless discussion in the context, I still want to know which one is correct in American English.
they became a world unto themselves means they didn't meaningfully interact with or reference the "outside" word. They were only concerned with their own selves, inhabiting their "private universe". But don't waste time trying to understand the meaning of unto in isolation here. It's effectively an idiom. With variants such as He is a law unto himself (he doesn't care about society's laws; he ...