Ruler

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹuːlə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A person who governs or holds sovereign authority over a country or territory ; a straight-edged measuring tool used to draw lines or measure lengths
2. An individual exercising control or command over a state or domain ; an instrument marked with units for measuring distance or drawing straight lines
3. One who exercises political power or leadership in a realm ; a device calibrated for measuring or marking lengths and guiding straight lines

Etymology: The word "ruler" is a plain formation: the noun "rule" with the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who rules. "Rule" came into English from Old French "reule," and the suffix "-er" has been attached to verbs in English since Old English to name a person or thing that performs an action. The earliest form in English was the Middle English "reuler," which already combined the two parts. The more interesting twist is that "ruler" has two quite separate senses that share a spelling by coincidence of formation rather than by common origin of the measuring tool. A person who governs a country and a flat strip marked with inches both bear the same name, and the straight-edged measuring stick is named for the way it rules or guides a straight line across a page. The shared word therefore reflects two different ideas: one of control over people, and one of drawing a straight line.

Synonyms: measuring stick, scale, straightedge, guide, sovereign

Antonyms: subject, follower, commoner, peasant, underling