ruler English · revision 16173

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=a. 1382, Wycliffite Bible}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹuː.lə/, /ˈɹuːl.ə/; /ˈɹuːlə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɹulɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|reuler]], from the verb [[m|enm|reulen]] with ''[[-er]]'',^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) and partly, in the sense of a measuring strip, from the noun ''[[rule]]'' with ''-er'';^(OED 2026) compare [[fro|rigleoir]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Both a person who rules and a straight-edged strip for drawing lines appear before 1382 in the early Wycliffite Bible.^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates the measuring sense to about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The governing sense soon widened to anyone who manages something within a limited sphere (1387), now merged with the main sense,^(OED 2026) and to something with a controlling influence (1398),^(OED 2026) including, in [[astrology]], a planet dominating a sign or person (about 1558).^(OED 2026) The older word for the drawing instrument was ''rule'' itself.^(Etymonline) A worker who ruled lines on paper is from 1692,^(OED 2026) and a line in a word-processing screen from 1980.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1382 – one who rules; a straight-edge for lines.^(OED 2026)

+ * a. 1387 – one who manages a limited sphere.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1558 – a ruling planet, in astrology.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1692 – a person who rules lines on paper.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1980 – a line in a computer layout.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who rules or governs, such as a [[sovereign]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A strip of wood, metal or plastic with a straight edge, marked in units, for measuring and drawing straight lines.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subruler]]

+ * [[home ruler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rule]]

+ * [[regular]]

+ * [[regulate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}