Rule Definition

ro͝ol
ruled, rules, ruling
noun
rules
The duration of such power.
American Heritage
An authoritative regulation for action, conduct, method, procedure, arrangement, etc.
The rules of the school.
Webster's New World
An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.
American Heritage
An established practice that serves as a guide to usage.
The rules of grammar.
Webster's New World
A complete set or code of regulations in a religious order.
The Benedictine rule.
Webster's New World
verb
ruled, rules, ruling
To have an influence over; guide.
To be ruled by one's friends.
Webster's New World
To lessen; restrain.
Reason ruled his fear.
Webster's New World
To have authority over; govern; direct.
To rule a country.
Webster's New World
To be the most important element of; dominate.
Action rules the plot.
Webster's New World
To be a preeminent or dominant factor in.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
pronoun

(Internet slang, informal) The proposition that there is at least one pornographic depiction of anything and everything; and, especially, that the resulting pornography is accessible through the Internet.

Wiktionary

(Internet slang, informal) The proposition that every fictional character has an opposite-gender version.

Wiktionary
idiom
as a rule
  • In general; for the most part:

    As a rule, we take the bus.

American Heritage
as a rule
  • usually; ordinarily
Webster's New World
rule out
  • to exclude, as by decision
  • to prevent; make impossible
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Rule

Noun

Singular:
rule
Plural:
rules

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Rule

Origin of Rule

  • noun: from Middle English rule, from Old French riule, from Vulgar Latin regula (“straight stick, bar, ruler, pattern"), from regere (“to keep straight, direct, govern, rule"); see regent.

    From Wiktionary

  • verb: from Middle English rulen, from Old French riuler, from Latin regulare (“to regulate, rule"), from regula (“a rule"); see regular.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English reule from Old French from Vulgar Latin regula from Latin rēgula rod, principle reg- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From a list of “Rules of the Internet” originally circulated on 4chan by members of Anonymous, in which the rule was formulated as "if it exists, there is porn of it".

    From Wiktionary

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