Rules

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹuːlz/

Definitions

1. Principles or guidelines that dictate acceptable behavior in various scenarios
2. Established directives that govern conduct or procedures ; a limitation or control imposed on actions or processes ; a structured set of norms that provide order or predictability
3. A set of instructions or principles that determine how something should be done ; an imposed condition that restricts or directs behavior ; an organized framework of criteria ensuring consistent practice

Etymology: This is a plural, so it comes down to the noun "rule." Its ancestor is Latin "regula," a straight stick or bar used for measuring and drawing lines, and the same word gave English its sense of an instruction to follow. The Latin noun grew from "regō," meaning "to keep straight, direct, govern," so the idea of a straight edge and the idea of authority share one root. Through Old French "riule" and "reule," the word reached Middle English as "reule" and "rewle" before settling into the modern form. The straight-edge sense survives in the word "ruler," the measuring stick on a desk, and the verb "regulate" (via Latin "regulāre") is a close relative. "Rail," "regal," and "regent" are cousins from the same source, though they reached English by different routes.

Synonyms: regulations, guidelines, principles, laws, standards

Antonyms: chaos, disorder, anarchy, lawlessness