RULE
rule, ruler
(noun) measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula
(noun) something regarded as a normative example; “the convention of not naming the main character”; “violence is the rule not the exception”; “his formula for impressing visitors”
rule, regulation
(noun) a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; “it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast”; “short haircuts were the regulation”
rule, formula
(noun) (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; “he determined the upper bound with Descartes’ rule of signs”; “he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials”
principle, rule
(noun) a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; “the principle of the conservation of mass”; “the principle of jet propulsion”; “the right-hand rule for inductive fields”
principle, rule
(noun) a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; “their principles of composition characterized all their works”
rule
(noun) any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; “the rule of St. Dominic”
rule, prescript
(noun) prescribed guide for conduct or action
rule
(noun) directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; “he knew the rules of chess”
rule, linguistic rule
(noun) (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
dominion, rule
(noun) dominance or power through legal authority; “France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa”; “the rule of Caesar”
rule
(noun) the duration of a monarch’s or government’s power; “during the rule of Elizabeth”
rule, harness, rein
(verb) keep in check; “rule one’s temper”
rule, decree
(verb) decide with authority; “The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed”
rule, find
(verb) decide on and make a declaration about; “find someone guilty”
rule
(verb) mark or draw with a ruler; “rule the margins”
govern, rule
(verb) exercise authority over; as of nations; “Who is governing the country now?”
predominate, dominate, rule, reign, prevail
(verb) be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; “Money reigns supreme here”; “Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood”
rule
(verb) have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
rule (countable and uncountable, plural rules)
A regulation, law, guideline.
A ruler; device for measuring, a straightedge, a measure.
A straight line (continuous mark, as made by a pen or the like), especially one lying across a paper as a guide for writing.
A regulating principle.
The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control.
A normal condition or state of affairs.
(obsolete) Conduct; behaviour.
(legal) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit.
(math) A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result.
(printing, dated) A thin plate of brass or other metal, of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.
Etymology 2
Verb
rule (third-person singular simple present rules, present participle ruling, simple past and past participle ruled)
(transitive) To regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for, reign over.
(slang, intransitive) To excel.
(transitive) To mark (paper or the like) with rules (lines).
(intransitive) To decide judicially.
(transitive) To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.
Synonyms
• (to excel): rock (also slang)
Antonyms
• (to excel): suck (vulgar slang)
Etymology 3
Noun
rule
(obsolete) Revelry.
Verb
rule (third-person singular simple present rules, present participle ruling, simple past and past participle ruled)
(obsolete, intransitive) To revel.
Anagrams
• ReLU, Ruel, lure
Proper noun
Rule (plural Rules)
A surname.
Statistics
• According to the 2010 United States Census, Rule is the 5573rd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 6236 individuals. Rule is most common among White (83.48%) individuals.
Anagrams
• ReLU, Ruel, lure
Source: Wiktionary
Rule, n. Etym: [OE. reule, riule, OF. riule, reule, F. régle, fr. L. regula a ruler, rule, model, fr. regere, rectum, to lead straight, to direct. See Right, a., and cf. Regular.]
1. That which is prescribed or laid down as a guide for conduct or action; a governing direction for a specific purpose; an authoritative enactment; a regulation; a prescription; a precept; as, the rules of various societies; the rules governing a school; a rule of etiquette or propriety; the rules of cricket. We profess to have embraced a religion which contains the most exact rules for the government of our lives. Tillotson.
2. Hence: (a) Uniform or established course of things. 'T is against the rule of nature. Shak.
(b) Systematic method or practice; as, my ule is to rise at six o'clock. (c) Ordibary course of procedure; usual way; comon state or condition of things; as, it is a rule to which there are many exeptions. (d) Conduct in general; behavior. [Obs.] This uncivil rule; she shall know of it. Shak.
3. The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control. Obey them that have the rule over you. Heb. xiii. 17. His stern rule the groaning land obeyed. Pope.
4. (Law)
Definition: An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit. Wharton.
5. (Math.)
Definition: A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result; as, a rule for extracting the cube root.
6. (Gram.)
Definition: A general principle concerning the formation or use of words, or a concise statement thereof; thus, it is a rule in England, that s or es , added to a noun in the singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but "man" forms its plural "men", and is an exception to the rule.
7. (a) A straight strip of wood, metal, or the like, which serves as a guide in drawing a straight line; a ruler. (b) A measuring instrument consisting of a graduated bar of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, which is usually marked so as to show inches and fractions of an inch, and jointed so that it may be folded compactly. A judicious artist will use his eye, but he will trust only to his rule. South.
8. (Print.) (a) A thin plate of metal (usually brass) of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work. (b) A composing rule. See under Conposing. As a rule, as a general thing; in the main; usually; as, he behaves well, as a rule.
– Board rule, Caliber rule,etc. See under Board, Caliber, etc.
– Rule joint, a knuckle joint having shoulders that abut when the connected pieces come in line with each other, and thus permit folding in one direction only.
– Rule of three (Arith.), that rule which directs, when three terms are given, how to find a fourth, which shall have the same ratio to the third term as the second has to the first; proportion. See Proportion, 5 (b).
– Rule of thumb, any rude process or operation, like that of using the thumb as a rule in measuring; hence, judgment and practical experience as distinguished from scientific knowledge.
Syn.
– regulation; law; precept; maxim; guide; canon; order; method; direction; control; government; sway; empire.
Rule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruling.] Etym: [Cf. OF. riuler, ruiler, L. regulare. See Rule, n., and cf. Regulate.]
1. To control the will and actions of; to exercise authority or dominion over; to govern; to manage. Chaucer. A bishop then must be blameless; . . . one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection. 1 Tim. iii. 2, 4.
2. To control or direct by influence, counsel, or persuasion; to guide; -- used chiefly in the passive. I think she will be ruled In all respects by me. Shak.
3. To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice. That's are ruled case with the schoolmen. Atterbury.
4. (Law)
Definition: To require or command by rule; to give as a direction or order of court.
5. To mark with lines made with a pen, pencil, etc., guided by a rule or ruler; to print or mark with lines by means of a rule or other contrivance effecting a similar result; as, to rule a sheet of paper of a blank book. Ruled surface (Geom.), any surface that may be described by a straight line moving according to a given law; -- called also a scroll.
Rule, v. i.
1. To have power or command; to exercise supreme authority; -- often followed by over. By me princes rule, and nobles. Prov. viii. 16. We subdue and rule over all other creatures. Ray.
2. (Law)
Definition: To lay down and settle a rule or order of court; to decide an incidental point; to enter a rule. Burril. Bouvier.
3. (Com.)
Definition: To keep within a (certain) range for a time; to be in general, or as a rule; as, prices ruled lower yesterday than the day before.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Word of the Day
17 November 2024
MONASTICISM
(noun) asceticism as a form of religious life; usually conducted in a community under a common rule and characterized by celibacy and poverty and obedience
Do you know this game?
Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins