I. ˈrül noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English riwle, reule, riule, from Old French reule, riule, from Latin regula straightedge, rule, from regere to lead straight, guide — more at right
1.
a. : a prescribed, suggested, or self-imposed guide for conduct or action : a regulation or principle
his parents laid down the rule that he must do his homework before going out to play
a very sound rule for any hiker is to mind his own business — F.D.Smith & Barbara Wilcox
made it a rule never to lose his temper
b. : the laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members
the rule of St. Dominic
c. : an accepted procedure, custom, or habit having the force of a regulation
we are bound by the rules of our culture to conceal such matters — Marjorie Fischer
the rule of the house was an early bedtime
d.
(1) : a usually written order or direction made by a court regulating court practice or the action of parties but not making a final judgment on the merits of a controversy
(2) : a legal precept applied to a given set of facts as stating the law applicable to a case
(3) : a statement or doctrine accepted as part of the common law — see rule against perpetuities
e. : a regulation or bylaw governing procedure in a public or private body (as a legislature or club) or controlling the conduct of its members
a rule for limiting debate
a rule against insulting language
a rule for the admission of new members
f. : one of a set of usually official regulations by which an activity (as a sport) is governed
the infield fly rule
the rules of professional basketball
2.
a.
(1) : a statement of a fact or relationship generally found to hold good : a usually valid generalization
the exception proves the rule
(2) : a generally prevailing condition, quality, state, or mode of activity or behavior
fair weather was the rule yesterday afternoon over most of the nation — New York Times
persons in whose families high blood pressure was the rule rather than the exception — Morris Fishbein
b. : a standard by which something is judged or valued : criterion
“good enough” becomes the rule and enters into the character of our theater life — Leslie Rees
c.
(1) : a principle regulating or held to regulate the practice of an art or science
the rules of perspective
the rules of harmony
the rules of versification
(2) : a principle regulating or held to regulate the form and use of words
a knowledge of the irrefragable rules of the comma was mistaken for a knowledge of language — Charlton Laird
d.
(1) : a determinate method prescribed for performing a mathematical operation and attaining a certain result
(2) dialect : recipe
3.
a.
(1) : the exercise of authority or control : dominion , government , sway
under his firm rule , however, conditions quickly improved — C.M.Fuess
establishing a single rule throughout the kingdom far and wide — B.N.Cardozo
(2) : a period during which a specified ruler or government exercises control
during the rule of the Caesars
in the first year of the rule of the republic
b. : the state of being governed : control
to a child, winter … was confinement, school, rule , discipline — Henry Adams
4.
a.
(1) : an instrument for measuring or ruling off lengths that consists of a strip or strips of material (as wood, metal, or tape) marked off in units of length (as inches or centimeters)
(2) : ruler 2a
b.
(1) : a metal strip with a type-high face that prints a linear design
(2) Britain : dash 3e
(3) : line gauge
(4) : composing rule
(5) : makeup rule
5. obsolete : behavior , conduct
this uncivil rule — Shakespeare
6.
a. rules plural : a limited area formerly established near a prison for the residence of prisoners of certain categories (as debtors)
b. : the freedom to live in such an area
was a prisoner on rule
Synonyms: see law
•
- as a rule
- under the rule
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English riwlen, reulen, rulen, from Old French reuler, riuler, from Latin regulare, from regula rule
transitive verb
1.
a. : to control, direct, or influence the mind, character, or actions of
so long as she could rule her own mind she was not afraid of the forces without — Ellen Glasgow
what rules an Admission Dean's judgment in the midwinter heat of competition — V.S.Carruthers
be ruled by me and have a care o' the crowd — Robert Browning
b. : to curb or moderate by the use of self-control
went on a diet but found it difficult to rule her appetite
c. : to exercise control over : guide , manage
rule a horse
2.
a. : to exercise authority or power over : govern
became Speaker and for nearly two years ruled the Assembly with a rod of iron — E.H.Collis
the territory is ruled by a high commissioner — Americana Annual
b. : to hold preeminence in (as by ability, strength, or position) : dominate
an actor who rules the Shakespearean stage
ruled the featherweight division — Providence (R.I.) Evening Bulletin
c. : to play a dominant role in or exert a controlling influence over
profit taking ruled the stock market yesterday — Wall Street Journal
the monsoon seasons, which rule the climate in a great part of Asia — Owen & Eleanor Lattimore
3.
a. : to declare authoritatively : decide , decree , determine ; specifically : to require or command by judicial rule : give as a direction, order, or determination of a court
b. : to consider as : judge
at the risk of really being ruled a maverick — Irving Kolodin
4.
a.
(1) : to mark with lines drawn along the straight edge of a ruler
rule a sheet of paper
: print or mark with lines by means of a rule
a pad of ruled yellow paper
(2) : to mark (a line) on a paper with a ruler
ruled vertical lines on the sheet
b. : to arrange in a straight line or mark off in lines as if with a ruler
nor were the eyebrows bushy like most old men's, but smoothly ruled — Clemence Dane
flowering shrubs which ruled the mountain walls like a sheet of paper — John Muir †1914
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to have power or command : exercise supreme authority
ruled wisely over his subjects — Time
a king who reigns but does not rule
b. : to exercise control : predominate
the physical did not rule in her nature — Sherwood Anderson
2.
a. : to prevail at a specified rate or level
prices had ruled high — Robert Hunter
in the offshore islands … temperature and humidity rule higher than on the mainland — Internat'l Reference Service
b. : to exist in a specified state or condition
3.
a. : to lay down a legal rule or order of court
b. : to decide an incidental legal point
c. : to enter a rule
Synonyms: see decide
•
- rule the roast
III. intransitive verb
slang : to be extremely cool or popular — used as a generalized term of praise or approval
for a little attitude at the right price, sneakers rule — Tish Hamilton