Rule \Rule\, n. [OE. reule, riule, OF. riule, reule, F.
r['e]gle, fr. L. regula a ruler, rule, model, fr. regere,
rectum, to lead straight, to direct. See Right, a., and cf.
Regular.]
1. That which is prescribed or laid down as a guide for
conduct or action; a governing direction for a specific
purpose; an authoritative enactment; a regulation; a
prescription; a precept; as, the rules of various
societies; the rules governing a school; a rule of
etiquette or propriety; the rules of cricket.
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We profess to have embraced a religion which
contains the most exact rules for the government of
our lives. --Tillotson.
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2. Hence:
(a) Uniform or established course of things.
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'T is against the rule of nature. --Shak.
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(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.]
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This uncivil rule; she shall know of it. --Shak.
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3. The act of ruling; administration of law; government;
empire; authority; control.
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Obey them that have the rule over you. --Heb. xiii.
17.
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His stern rule the groaning land obeyed. --Pope.
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4. (Law) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or
an order made between parties to an action or a suit.
--Wharton.
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5. (Math.) A determinate method prescribed for performing any
operation and producing a certain result; as, a rule for
extracting the cube root.
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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.
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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.
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A judicious artist will use his eye, but he will
trust only to his rule. --South.
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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.
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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 the road (Law), any of the various regulations
imposed upon travelers by land or water for their mutual
convenience or safety. In the United States it is a rule
of the road that land travelers passing in opposite
directions shall turn out each to his own right, and
generally that overtaking persons or vehicles shall turn
out to the left; in England the rule for vehicles (but not
for pedestrians) is the opposite of this.
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.
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Board \Board\ (b[=o]rd), n. [OE. bord, AS. bord board,
shipboard; akin to bred plank, Icel. bor[eth] board, side of
a ship, Goth. f[=o]tu-baurd footstool, D. bord board, G.
brett, bort. See def. 8. [root]92.]
1. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length
and breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for
building, etc.
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Note: When sawed thick, as over one and a half or two inches,
it is usually called a plank.
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2. A table to put food upon.
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Note: The term board answers to the modern table, but it was
often movable, and placed on trestles. --Halliwell.
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Fruit of all kinds . . .
She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unsparing hand. --Milton.
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3. Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals;
provision; entertainment; -- usually as furnished for pay;
as, to work for one's board; the price of board.
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4. A table at which a council or court is held. Hence: A
council, convened for business, or any authorized assembly
or meeting, public or private; a number of persons
appointed or elected to sit in council for the management
or direction of some public or private business or trust;
as, the Board of Admiralty; a board of trade; a board of
directors, trustees, commissioners, etc.
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Both better acquainted with affairs than any other
who sat then at that board. --Clarendon.
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We may judge from their letters to the board.
--Porteus.
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5. A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material
used for some special purpose, as, a molding board; a
board or surface painted or arranged for a game; as, a
chessboard; a backgammon board.
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6. Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers,
etc.; pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.
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7. pl. The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to
enter upon the theatrical profession.
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8. [In this use originally perh. a different word meaning
border, margin; cf. D. boord, G. bord, shipboard, and G.
borte trimming; also F. bord (fr. G.) the side of a ship.
Cf. Border.] The border or side of anything. (Naut.)
(a) The side of a ship. "Now board to board the rival
vessels row." --Dryden. See On board, below.
(b) The stretch which a ship makes in one tack.
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Note: Board is much used adjectively or as the last part of a
compound; as, fir board, clapboard, floor board,
shipboard, sideboard, ironing board, chessboard,
cardboard, pasteboard, seaboard; board measure.
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The American Board, a shortened form of "The American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions" (the foreign
missionary society of the American Congregational
churches).
Bed and board. See under Bed.
Board and board (Naut.), side by side.
Board of control, six privy councilors formerly appointed
to superintend the affairs of the British East Indies.
--Stormonth.
Board rule, a figured scale for finding without calculation
the number of square feet in a board. --Haldeman.
Board of trade, in England, a committee of the privy
council appointed to superintend matters relating to
trade. In the United States, a body of men appointed for
the advancement and protection of their business
interests; a chamber of commerce.
Board wages.
(a) Food and lodging supplied as compensation for
services; as, to work hard, and get only board wages.
(b) Money wages which are barely sufficient to buy food
and lodging.
(c) A separate or special allowance of wages for the
procurement of food, or food and lodging. --Dryden.
By the board, over the board, or side. "The mast went by
the board." --Totten. Hence (Fig.),
To go by the board, to suffer complete destruction or
overthrow.
To enter on the boards, to have one's name inscribed on a
board or tablet in a college as a student. [Cambridge,
England.] "Having been entered on the boards of Trinity
college." --Hallam.
To make a good board (Naut.), to sail in a straight line
when close-hauled; to lose little to leeward.
To make short boards, to tack frequently.
On board.
(a) On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as, I
came on board early; to be on board ship.
(b) In or into a railway car or train. [Colloq. U. S.]
Returning board, a board empowered to canvass and make an
official statement of the votes cast at an election.
[U.S.]
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