Search results for 'rule':

rule noun 1 a principle, regulation, order or direction which governs or controls some action, function, form, use, etc. 2 a government or control; b the period during which government or control is exercised. 3 a general principle, standard, guideline or custom • make it a rule always to be punctual. 4 Christianity the laws and customs which form the basis of a monastic or religious order and are followed by all members of that order • the Benedictine rule. 5 a ruler (sense 2). 6 printing a thin straight line or dash. 7 law an order made by a court and judge which applies to a particular case only. verb (ruled, ruling) 1 tr & intr to govern; to exercise authority over someone. 2 to keep control of or restrain someone or something. 3 to make an authoritative and usually official or judicial decision. 4 intrans to be common or prevalent • chaos ruled after the war. 5 to draw a straight line. 6 to draw a straight line or a series of parallel lines eg on paper. rulable adj 1 governable. 2 US allowable. ruleless adj. as a rule usually. be ruled to take advice. rule the roost to be dominant.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French, from Latin regula a straight stick, related to regere to rule, and rex king.