n. An instrument with an edge approximately straight, subserving purposes of measurement.n. A formula to which conduct must be conformed; a minor law, canon, or regulation, especially a regulation which a person imposes upon himself: as, the rules of whist.n. Specifically— In monasteries or other religious societies, the code of laws required to be observed by the society and its individual members: as, the rule of St. Benedict, the rule of St. Basil, etc.n. In law: A statement of a principle of law propounded as controlling or entitled to control conduct; the principle thus stated: as, the rule against perpetuities (see perpetuity, 3). In this sense some rules are statutory or constitutional—that is, created by or embodied in statutes or a constitution; some are common-law rules, as many of the rules of evidence; and some are equitable—that is, introduced by the courts of equity. More specifically, regulations (generally, if not always, promulgated in writing) prescribed by a court or judges for the conduct of litigation, being either general rules, applicable to whole classes of cases (commonly called rules of court), or particular rules, or orders in particular causes: as, a rule for a new trial, a rule nisi, etc.n. plural In American parliamentary law, the regulations adopted by a deliberative body for the conduct of its proceedings, corresponding to the standing orders of the British House of Commons.n. In grammar, an established form of construction in a particular class of words, or the expression of that form in words. Thus, it is a rule in English that s or es added to a noun in the singular number forms the plural of that noun; but man forms its plural men, and so is an exception to the rule.n. A form of words embodying a method for attaining a desired result; also, the method itself: as, the rules of art; especially, in arithmetic, the description of a process for solving a problem or performing a calculation; also, the method itself.n. The expression of a uniformity; a general proposition; especially, the statement that under certain circumstances certain phenomena will present themselves: as, failure is the general rule, success the exception.n. In law: Jail limits. See rules of a prison, below.n. The time and place appointed in a court, or in the office of its clerk, for entering rules or orders such as do not require to be granted by the court in term time. Hence the phrase at rules, at the session so appointed.n. Conformity to rule; regularity; propriety: as, to be out of rule.n. The possession and exertion of guiding and controlling power; government; sway; dominion; supreme command or authority.n. In printing, a thin strip of rolled brass, cut type-high, used for the printing of continuous lines. (See composing.)n. In plastering, a strip of wood placed on the face of a wall as a guide to assist in keeping the plane surface.n. In musical notation, same as line, 2 .n. See def. 8.n. Synonyms Precept, etc. (see principle), law, regulation, formula, criterion, standard.n. Direction, regulation, dominion, lordship, authority, mastery, domination.To make conformable to a rule, pattern, or standard; adjust or dispose according to rule; regulate; hence, to guide or order aright.To settle as by a rule; in law, to establish by decision or rule; determine; decide: thus, a court is said to rule a point.To have or exercise authority or dominion over; govern; command; control; manage; restrain.To prevail on; persuade; advise: generally or always in the passive, so that to be ruled by is to take the advice or follow the directions of.To dominate; have a predominant influence or effect upon or in.To mark with lines by means of a ruler; produce parallel straight lines in, by any means: as, to rule a blank book. See ruled paper, under paper.To mark with or as with the aid of a ruler or a ruling-machine: as, to rule lines on paper.Any surface, as of paper or metal, upon which a series of parallel lines has been marked or cut.Synonyms and Control, Regulate, etc. See govern.To have power or command; exercise supreme authority.To prevail; decide.In law: To decide.To lay down and settle a rule or order of court; order by rule; enter a rule.In com., to stand or maintain a level.n. Revel; revelry.To revel; be unruly. Halliwell (under reul).n. plural In ship-building, a book of one of the marine registration societies containing a systematic scheme of scantlings and rules for the construction of all types and sizes of vessels. The most important of these are Lloyd's rules (which see). Rules involving somewhat different systems are published by other societies, as the British Corporation rules, Bureau Veritas rules (French), Record of American and Foreign Shipping rules (United States), German Lloyd rules, etc.n. A carpenter's folding foot-rule, made in sections so arranged that it can be quickly adjusted for use as a yardstick (three feet) or as a four-foot rule or five-foot rule. Sometimes called a two-four rule, according to arrangement of sections. Rules of this type are sometimes called zigzag rules.n. ax + by + cz + … + lw = mn. a′ x + b′ y + c′ z + … + l′ w = m′ n. in the bipartite case in the analytical theory of multipartite denumeration, or the enumeration of the partitions of multipartite numbers in combinatory analysis.
