a prescriptive specification of conduct or action
the laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members
an established procedure, custom, or habit
a generally prevailing quality, state, or form
a standard of judgment
a regulating principle, esp of a system
the rules of grammar
the exercise or a period of dominion by a particular ruler or government
a usually valid generalization
a strip or set of jointed strips of metal, wood, or plastic marked off in units and used for measuring or marking off lengths or drawing straight lines
a printed or written line or dash
(Rules) = Australian Rules football
as a rule
generally; for the most part
[Middle English reule via French from Latin regula straight edge, rule, from regere to lead straight]