A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior:
— It was his rule to take a walk before breakfast.

synonym: regulation.

Roget 963: legality; legitimacy, legitimateness.    legislature; law, code, corpus juris [Lat.], constitution, pandect^†, charter, enactment, statute, rule; canon etc. (precept) 697; ordinance, institution, regulation; bylaw, byelaw; decree etc. (order) 741; ordonnance^†; standing order; plebiscite etc. (choice) 609.    legal process; form, formula, formality; rite, arm of the law; habeas corpus; fieri facias [Lat.].    [Science of law] jurisprudence, nomology^†; legislation, codification.    equity, common law; lex [Lat.], lex nonscripta [Lat.]; law of nations, droit des gens [Fr.], international law, jus gentium [Lat.]; jus civile [Lat.]; civil law, canon law, crown law, criminal law, statute law, ecclesiastical law, administrative law; lex mercatoria [Lat.].    constitutionalism, constitutionality; justice etc. 922.    [institution for deciding questions of law] court, tribunal etc. 966.    [person who presides at a court or tribunal] judge etc. 967.    [specialist in questions of law] lawyer, attorney, legal counsel etc. 968.    ... show more

Roget 697: precept, direction, instruction, charge; prescript, prescription; recipe, receipt; golden rule; maxim etc. 496.    rule, canon, law, code, corpus juris [Lat.], lex scripta [Lat.], act, statute, rubric, stage direction, regulation; form, formula, formulary; technicality; canon law; norm.    order etc. (command) 741.    ... show more

Roget 613: habit, habitude; assuetude^†, assuefaction^†, wont; run, way.    common state of things, general state of things, natural state of things, ordinary state of things, ordinary course of things, ordinary run of things; matter of course; beaten path, beaten track, beaten ground.    prescription, custom, use, usage, immemorial usage, practice; prevalence, observance; conventionalism, conventionality; mode, fashion, vogue; etiquette etc. (gentility) 852; order of the day, cry; conformity etc. 82; consuetude, dustoor^†.    one's old way, old school, veteris vestigia flammae [Lat.]; laudator temporis acti [Lat.].    rule, standing order, precedent, routine; red-tape, red-tapism^†; pipe clay; rut, groove.    cacoethes [Lat.]; bad habit, confirmed habit, inveterate habit, intrinsic habit &c.; addiction, trick.    training etc. (education) 537; seasoning, second nature, acclimatization; knack etc. ... show more

Roget 466: measurement, admeasurement^†, mensuration, survey, valuation, appraisement, assessment, assize; estimate, estimation; dead reckoning, reckoning etc. (numeration) 85; gauging etc. v.; horse power.    metrology, weights and measures, compound arithmetic.    measure, yard measure, standard, rule, foot rule, compass, calipers; gage, gauge; meter, line, rod, check; dividers; velo^†.    flood mark, high water mark; Plimsoll line; index etc. 550.    scale; graduation, graduated scale; nonius^†; vernier etc. (minuteness) 193.    [instruments for measuring] bathometer, galvanometer, heliometer, interferometer, odometer, ombrometer^†, pantometer^†, pluviometer^†, pneumatometer^†, pneumometer^†, radiometer, refractometer, respirometer, rheometer, spirometer^†, telemeter, udometer^†, vacuometer^†, variometer^†, viameter^†, thermometer, thermistor (heat) etc. 382, barometer (air) etc. 338, anemometer (wind) 349, dynamometer, goniometer, (angle) 244 meter; landmark etc. (limit) 233; balance, scale etc. (weight) 319; marigraph^†, pneumatograph^†, stethograph^†; rain gauge, rain gage; voltmeter (volts), ammeter (amps); spectrophotometer (light absorbance); mass spectrophotometer (molecular mass); geiger counter, scintillation counter (radioactivity); pycnometer (liquid density); graduated cylinder, volumetric flask (volume); radar gun (velocity); radar (distance); side-looking radar, (shape, topography); sonar (depth in water); light meter (light intensity); clock, watch, stopwatch, chronometer (time); anemometer (wind velocity); densitometer (color intensity). measurability, computability, determinability^†.    coordinates, ordinate and abscissa, polar coordinates, latitude and longitude, declination and right ascension, altitude and azimuth.    geometry, stereometry^†, hypsometry^†; metage^†; surveying, land surveying; geodesy, geodetics^†, geodesia^†; orthometry^†, altimetry^†; cadastre [Fr.].    astrolabe, armillary sphere^†.    land surveyor; geometer.    ... show more

Roget 200: length, longitude, span; mileage; distance etc. 196.    line, bar, rule, stripe, streak, spoke, radius.    lengthening etc. v.; prolongation, production, protraction; tension, tensure^†; extension.    [Measures of length] line, nail, inch, hand, palm, foot, cubit, yard, ell, fathom, rood, pole, furlong, mile, league; chain, link; arpent^†, handbreadth^†, jornada [U.S.], kos^†, vara^†.    [astronomical units of distance] astronomical unit, AU, light-year, parsec.    [metric units of length] nanometer, nm, micron, micrometer, millimicron, millimeter, mm, centimeter, cm, meter, kilometer, km.    pedometer, perambulator; scale etc. (measurement) 466.    ... show more

Dutch: regel

Something regarded as a normative example:
— Violence is the rule not the exception.

synonyms: convention, formula, normal, pattern.

Roget 136: frequency, oftness^†, oftenness^†, commonness; repetition etc. 104; normality etc. 80; example (conformity) 82; routine, custom (habit) 613.    regularity, uniformity, constancy, clock-work precision; punctuality etc. (exactness) 494; even tenor; system; routine etc. (custom) 613; formula; rule etc. (form regulation) 697; keynote, standard, model; precedent etc. (prototype) 22; conformity etc. 82.    ... show more

Roget 82: conformity, conformance; observance; habituation.    naturalization; conventionality etc. (custom) 613; agreement etc. 23.    example, instance, specimen, sample, quotation; exemplification, illustration, case in point; object lesson; elucidation.    standard, model, pattern etc. (prototype) 22.    rule, nature, principle; law; order of things; normal state, natural state, ordinary state, model state, normal condition, natural condition, ordinary condition, model condition; standing dish, standing order; Procrustean law; law of the Medes and Persians; hard and fast rule.    ... show more

Roget 80: normality, normalcy, normalness^†; familiarity, naturalness; commonness (frequency) 136; rule, standard (conformity) 82; customary (habit) 613; standard, pattern (prototype) 22.    ... show more

Dutch: conventie, formaliteit, formule, mores, regel
Polish: model, wzór, modła, paradygmat, wzorzec

Prescribed guide for conduct or action.

synonym: prescript.

Dutch: voorschrift, reguleren, arrangeren, regelen, regel
Polish: rygory, obyczaje, zasada, norma

linguistics A rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice.

synonym: linguistic rule.

A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct.

synonym: principle.

Polish: standard, reguła, prawidłowość

The duration of a monarch's or government's power.

Dominance or power through legal authority:
— The rule of Caesar.

synonym: dominion.

Roget 737a: government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority; authority etc. 737; master etc. 745; direction etc. 693.    [nations] national government, nation, state, country, nation-state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic; kingdom, principality.    [subdivisions of nations] state government [Lat.], state; shire [Brit.]; province [Can.]; county [Ire.]; canton [Switz.]; territory [Austral.]; duchy, archduchy, archdukedom^†; woiwodshaft; commonwealth; region etc. 181; property etc. 780.    [smaller subdivisions] county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement [Fr.], mofussil^†, commune; wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth^†, soke^†, tithing; ward, precinct, bailiwick.    command, empire, sway, rule; dominion, domination; sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty; lordship, headship^†; chiefdom^†; seigniory, seigniority^†.    rule, sway, command, control, administer; govern etc. (direct) 693; lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne; sway the scepter, wield the scepter; wear the crown.    state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus [Lat.].    [person in the governing authority] judicature etc. 965; cabinet etc. (council) 696; seat of government, seat of authority; headquarters.    [Acquisition of authority] accession; installation etc. 755; politics etc. 737.1. reign, regime, dynasty; directorship, dictatorship; protectorate, protectorship; caliphate, pashalic^†, electorate; presidency, presidentship^†; administration; proconsul, consulship; prefecture; seneschalship; magistrature^†, magistracy.    monarchy; kinghood^†, kingship; royalty, regality; aristarchy^†, aristocracy; oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy; commonwealth; dominion; heteronomy; republic, republicanism; socialism; collectivism; mob law, mobocracy^†, ochlocracy^†; vox populi, imperium in imperio [Lat.]; bureaucracy; beadledom^†, bumbledom^†; stratocracy; military power, military government, junta; feodality^†, feudal system, feudalism.    thearchy^†, theocracy, dinarchy^†; duarchy^†, triarchy, heterarchy^†; duumvirate; triumvirate; autocracy, autonomy; limited monarchy; constitutional government, constitutional monarchy; home rule; representative government; monocracy^†, pantisocracy^†.    gynarchy^†, gynocracy^†, gynaeocracy^†; petticoat government.    [government functions] legislature, judiciary, administration.    [Government agencies and institutions] office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet; senate, house of representatives, parliament; council etc. 696; courts, supreme court; [U.S. national government departments], state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury; Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI; Central Intelligence Agency, CIA; National Institutes of Health, NIH; Postal Service, Post Office; Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.    [national government officials] president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister; senator, representatative, president pro tem [Lat.], speaker of the house; department head, section head, section chief; federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice; treasurer, secretary of the treasury; director of the FBI.    [state government officials] governor, state cabinet member; state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman.    ... show more

Dutch: heersen

Directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted.

Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order.

A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system:
— The right-hand rule for inductive fields.

synonym: principle.

mathematics A standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems:
— He determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs.

synonym: formula.

Dutch: formule, voorschrift, regel

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.

synonym: ruler.

Dutch: maat, maatlat, meetlat, scepter
Polish: linijka

Exercise authority over; as of nations.

synonym: govern.

Roget 693: direct, manage, govern, conduct; order, prescribe, cut out work for; bead, lead; lead the way, show the way; take the lead, lead on; regulate, guide, steer, pilot; tackle, take the helm, be at the helm; have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins; drive, tool.    superintend, supervise; overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for; administer, ministrate^†; matronize^†; have the care of, have the charge of; be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction; boss, boss one around; pull the strings, pull the wires; rule etc. (command) 737; have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio; preside, preside at the board; take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair; pull the stroke oar.    ... show more

Roget 749: be subject etc. adj.; be at the mercy of, lie at the mercy of; depend upon, lean upon, hang upon; fall a prey to, fall under; play second fiddle.    be a mere machine, be a puppet, be a football; not dare to say one's soul is his own; drag a chain.    serve etc. 746; obey etc. 743; submit etc. 725.    break in, tame; subject, subjugate; master etc. 731; tread down, tread under foot; weigh down; drag at one's chariot wheels; reduce to subjection, reduce to slavery; enthrall, inthrall^†, bethrall^†; enslave, lead captive; take into custody etc. (restrain) 751; rule etc. 737; drive into a corner, hold at the sword's point; keep under; hold in bondage, hold in leading strings, hold in swaddling clothes.    ... show more

Roget 737a: govern, rule, have authority, hold authority, possess authority, exercise authority, exert authority, wield authority etc. n.; reign, be sovereign.    [acquire authority] ascend the throne, mount the throne; take the reins, take the reins into one's hand; assume authority etc. n., assume the reins of government; take command, assume command.    [contend for authority] politics etc. 737.1. be governed by, be in the power of, be a subject of, be a citizen of.    ... show more

Dutch: bepalen, gebieden, heersen, leiden, overheersen, regelen, regeren

Decide with authority.

synonym: decree.

Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance.

synonyms: dominate, predominate, prevail, reign.

Dutch: beheersen, controleren, domineren, heersen, overheersen, prevaleren

Decide on and make a declaration about.

synonym: find.

Roget 480: judge, conclude; come to a conclusion, draw a conclusion, arrive at a conclusion; ascertain, determine, make up one's mind.    deduce, derive, gather, collect, draw an inference, make a deduction, weet^†, ween^†.    form an estimate, estimate, appreciate, value, count, assess, rate, rank, account; regard, consider, think of; look upon etc. (believe) 484; review; size up [Slang].    settle; pass an opinion, give an opinion; decide, try, pronounce, rule; pass judgment, pass sentence; sentence, doom; find; give judgment, deliver judgment; adjudge, adjudicate; arbitrate, award, report; bring in a verdict; make absolute, set a question at rest; confirm etc. (assent) 488.    comment, criticize, kibitz; pass under review etc. (examine) 457; investigate etc. (inquire) 461.    hold the scales, sit in judgment; try judgment, hear a cause.    ... show more

Have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac.

Mark or draw with a ruler.

Keep in check:
— Rule one's temper.

synonyms: harness, rein.