ruled

Variant of rule

rule definition

rule (ro̵̅o̅l)

noun

    1. an authoritative regulation for action, conduct, method, procedure, arrangement, etc. the rules of the school
    2. an established practice that serves as a guide to usage the rules of grammar
  1. a complete set or code of regulations in a religious order the Benedictine rule
  2. a fixed principle that determines conduct; habit; custom to make it a rule never to hurry
  3. something that usually or normally happens or obtains; customary course of events famine is the rule following war
    1. government; reign; control
    2. the period of reigning of a particular ruler or government
  4. a ruler or straightedge
  5. Obsolete way of acting; behavior
  6. Law
    1. a regulation or guide established by a court governing court practice and procedure
    2. a declaration, order, etc. made by a judge or court in deciding a specific question or point of law
    3. a legal principle or maxim
  7. Math. a method or procedure prescribed for computing or solving a problem
  8. Printing
    1. a thin strip of metal, the height of type, used to print straight or decorative lines, borders, etc.
    2. a line so printed

Etymology: ME reule < OFr rieule < L regula, ruler, straightedge < regere, to lead straight, rule: see right

transitive verb ruled, ruling rul′·ing

  1. to have an influence over; guide to be ruled by one's friends
  2. to lessen; restrain reason ruled his fear
  3. to have authority over; govern; direct to rule a country
  4. to be the most important element of; dominate action rules the plot
  5. to settle by decree; determine the court ruled the validity of the point
    1. to mark lines on with or as with a ruler
    2. to mark (a line) thus

intransitive verb

  1. to have supreme authority; govern
  2. to be at a specified rate or level; prevail: said of prices, commodities, etc.
  3. to issue a formal decree about a question
rule Idioms

as a rule

usually; ordinarily

rule out

  1. to exclude, as by decision
  2. to prevent; make impossible

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.