rubric

ru·bric

An example of a rubric in an engraving page of the Gutenberg Bible printed in 1455.

noun

The definition of a rubric is the use of red lettering to highlight something on a page, or a standard for grading or scoring knowledge or performance.

An example of rubric is decorative lettering and red chapter headings and initial letters in religious books printed in the 15th century.
An example of a rubric is a specific scoring tool to grade a student's progress based on the learning objectives for the student.

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"rubric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric>.

APA Style

rubric. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric

rubric

in early books and manuscripts, a chapter heading, initial letter, specific sentence, etc. printed or written in red, decorative lettering, etc.
any heading, title, etc., as of a chapter or section
a direction, as in a prayer book, for conducting religious services
an explanatory comment, or gloss
the title or a heading of a law
an established custom or rule of procedure

Origin of rubric

Middle English rubryke from Middle French rubriche from Classical Latin rubrica, red ocher, hence title (esp. of a law) written in red, rubric from ruber, red

inscribed in red
Archaic red or reddish

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rubric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric>.

APA Style

rubric. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric

rubric

noun

a. A class or category: “This mission is sometimes discussed under the rubric of 'horizontal escalation' … from conventional to nuclear war” ( Jack Beatty )
b. A title; a name.
A part of a manuscript or book, such as a title, heading, or initial letter, that appears in decorative red lettering or is otherwise distinguished from the rest of the text.
A title or heading of a statute or chapter in a code of law.
Ecclesiastical A direction in a missal, hymnal, or other liturgical book.
An authoritative rule or direction.
A short commentary or explanation covering a broad subject.
Red ocher.

adjective

Red or reddish.
Written in red.

Origin of rubric

Middle English rubrike heading, title from Old French rubrique from Latin rubrīca red chalk from ruber rubr- red ; see reudh- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

ru′bri·cal
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rubric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric>.

APA Style

rubric. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/rubric

Noun

(plural rubrics)

A heading in a book highlighted in red.
A title of a category or a class.
- 2008, Chris Dodd, Senator Dodd Speaks in Opposition to FISA Bill on Floor of U.S. Senate:
  And in one swoop, the Attorney General conceded to the president nearly unlimited power, just as long as he finds a lawyer willing to stuff his actions into the boundless rubric of “defending the country."
An established rule or custom, a guideline.
(education) A printed set of scoring criteria for evaluating student work and for giving feedback.

Adjective

(comparative more rubric, superlative most rubric)

Coloured or marked with red; placed in rubrics.
Of or relating to the rubric or rubrics; rubrical.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present rubrics, present participle rubricking, simple past and past participle rubricked)

To adorn with red; to redden.

Origin

Through Old French rubrique, from Latin rubrÄ«ca (“red ochre"), the substance used to make red letters, from ruber (“red"), from Proto-Indo-European *reudh-.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.