Regularity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɹɛɡjuˈlæɹəti/

Definitions

1. The quality or state of occurring at fixed, predictable intervals or following a consistent pattern
2. The trait of being consistent in occurrence and maintaining a predictable pattern over time is essential for many systems
3. Maintaining occurrence at stable intervals and adhering to a uniform pattern is vital for various processes

Etymology: The word traces back to the Latin "rēgula," meaning a straight stick or rule, the same root that gave English "ruler" and "rule." From that sense of something that keeps things straight came the adjective "rēgulāris," "conforming to a rule," and then the abstract noun "rēgulāritās" in Late Latin. The word passed into Middle French as "regularite" and from there into English, where it describes the quality of following a fixed pattern or occurring at even intervals. The English form is a plain combination: "regular" with the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. The base itself was Latin all along, so the most interesting thing here is how a physical measuring tool became a measure of order in time and pattern. A straight rod was the original model for conformity, and the idea of keeping to a line carried over into keeping to a schedule.

Synonyms: uniformity, consistency, orderliness, systematicness, repetition

Antonyms: irregularity, inconsistency, disorder