rule

n

1. principle, tenet, law, precept; regulation, ordinance, bylaw, statute; control, restriction, ban, embargo, prohibition; mandate, commandment, directive, order, court order.

2. standard, guide, guideline; basic rule, Inf. rule of the road, formula, formulary, recipe, method, way; model, canon, criterion; natural law, general truth, truth or self-evident truth; rubric, doctrine, dogma, belief; mathematical rule, Math. formula, theorem, Math. proposition, Math. corollary; moral law, rule of conduct, code, personal code or standards.

3. dominion, reign, government, regulation, direction; command, domination, mastery, sway, authority, control, mastery, power, influence; sovereignty, supremacy, ascendancy; supervision, oversight, leadership; kingship, (in India) raj, presidency, chieftaincy, chieftainship, czarism, imperial rule, papal rule; dominance, eminence; tenure of office.

4. usual occurrence, custom, convention, customary practice, habitual practice, wont, routine, matter of course, habit, rut, groove.

5. as a rule

usually, generally, ordinarily, commonly; habitually, customarily, frequently, often, repeatedly; universally, extensively, almost always; for the most part, in the main, on the whole, mainly; most times, almost every time, on a regular basis.

v

6. control, have control of, be in control; boss, call the shots, Inf. call the tune; direct, supervise, superintend, oversee; head, lead, manage, administer, have or be in charge, preside over; dominate, rule the roost, wear the crown, wield the scepter, wield the power or authority, sit on the throne.

7. prevail, be prevalent, predominate, hold sway; preponderate, abound, flourish, thrive, overspread, spread over, be widespread, be universal, be rife, be rampart, be epidemic; be widely-known, be all-pervasive, be all over; endure, last, continue, persist; be current, be fashionable, be popular, be in vogue, be a la mode, be all the rage.

8. decree, deem, judge, adjudge; settle, order, hand down a decision; decide, make a judgment, exercise judicial power.

9. rule out

eliminate, exclude, dismiss, reject; disregard, ignore, by-pass, overlook; refuse to admit, not put into consideration, not consider eligible or worthy, put out of the running.