'T is against the rule of nature.
Shak.
(b) Systematic method or practice; as, my ule is to rise at six
o'clock. (c) Ordibary course of procedure; usual way; comon state or
condition of things; as, it is a rule to which there are many
exeptions. (d) Conduct in general; behavior. [Obs.]
This uncivil rule; she shall know of it.
Shak.
3. The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire;
authority; control.
Obey them that have the rule over you.
Heb. xiii. 17.
His stern rule the groaning land obeyed.
Pope.
4. (Law) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order
made between parties to an action or a suit. Wharton.
5. (Math.) A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation
and producing a certain result; as, a rule for extracting the cube
root.
6. (Gram.) A general principle concerning the formation or use of
words, or a concise statement thereof; thus, it is a rule in England,
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 is an exception to
the rule.
7. (a) A straight strip of wood, metal, or the like, which serves as a
guide in drawing a straight line; a ruler. (b) A measuring instrument
consisting of a graduated bar of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, which
is usually marked so as to show inches and fractions of an inch, and
jointed so that it may be folded compactly.
A judicious artist will use his eye, but he will trust only to his
rule.
South.
8. (Print.) (a) A thin plate of metal (usually brass) of the same
height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on
the same page, or in tabular work. (b) A composing rule. See under
Conposing.
As a rule, as a general thing; in the main; usually; as, he behaves
well, as a rule. -- Board rule, Caliber rule, etc. See under Board,
Caliber, etc. -- Rule joint, a knuckle joint having shoulders that abut
when the connected pieces come in line with each other, and thus permit
folding in one direction only. -- Rule of three (Arith.), that rule
which directs, when three terms are given, how to find a fourth, which
shall have the same ratio to the third term as the second has to the
first; proportion. See Proportion, 5 (b). -- Rule of thumb, any rude
process or operation, like that of using the thumb as a rule in
measuring; hence, judgment and practical experience as distinguished
from scientific knowledge.
Syn. -- regulation; law; precept; maxim; guide; canon; order; method;
direction; control; government; sway; empire.
Rule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ruling.] [Cf. OF.
riuler, ruiler, L. regulare. See Rule, n., and cf. Regulate.] 1. To
control the will and actions of; to exercise authority or dominion
over; to govern; to manage. Chaucer.
A bishop then must be blameless; . . . one that ruleth well his own
house, having his children in subjection.