regula

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈreː.ɡʊ.ɫa]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɛː.ɡu.la]^[1]

Forms

rēgula f (genitive rēgulae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin regō (“to direct, guide”) + -ula, with the suffix of instrument nouns.^[2][3] The TLL thinks the suffix replaced an older *-tlo-, and that the long ē was taken from the participle rēctus, as in tēgula beside tēctus.^[3] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *reg-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ-e/o- (“to stretch, direct”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro and Köbler from Cicero, who speaks of rulers and plumb lines.^[4][5][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a rod for ruling straight lines or measuring, a ruler, and generally a long straight piece of wood or metal, a bar.^[2] Figuratively it became a basic principle, rule or standard for conduct, language and thought.^[2]

In Christian Latin it was the rule of faith, the creed, a rule for Christian life, and a code of church discipline.^[6] Isidore explains it as a straight thing, as if rēctula.^[7] Borrowed into Germanic, it gave German Regel,^[5] and it survives in Old French reille.^[1]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of rulers and plumb lines.^[2][5]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a part of the plough.^[2][5]
• Late Latin – It is used of the rule of faith and of monastic rules.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A ruler, straightedge.^[2]
2. A principle, rule, standard.^[2]
3. A straight rod or bar.^[2]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The rule of faith, creed; a monastic rule; a code of church discipline.^[6]

Word family

• rēgulāris

Related words

• regō
• regiō
• English rule
• English regular
• English regulate

Usage notes

Isidore explains it as named from being straight, quasi rēctula, with nothing in its way.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).