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Book Glossary

rule

Dictionary definition · rule

noun

  1. a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"
  2. something regarded as a normative example"the convention of not naming the main character"
  3. prescribed guide for conduct or action
  4. (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
  5. 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"
  6. the duration of a monarch's or government's power"during the rule of Elizabeth"

verb

  1. exercise authority over; as of nations"Who is governing the country now?"
  2. decide with authority"The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
  3. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance"Money reigns supreme here"
  4. decide on and make a declaration about"find someone guilty"
  5. have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
  6. mark or draw with a ruler"rule the margins"

Similar words

regulationgovernconventionformulanormalpatterndecreeprescriptdominatepredominate

Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).