Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun One, such as a monarch or dictator, that rules or governs.
- noun A straightedged strip, as of wood or metal, for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun One who rules or governs; one who exercises dominion or controlling power over others; a person who commands, manages, restrains, or has part in the making or administration of law; one in authority.
- noun A rule; an instrument made of wood, brass, ivory, or the like, with straight edges or sides, by means of which, as a guide, straight lines may be drawn on paper, parchment, or other substance, by passing a pen or pencil along the edge. (See
rule , and parallel ruler, under parallel.) When a ruler has the lines of chords, tangents, sines, etc., it is called a scale. Seescale . - noun In engraving, a workman who operates a ruling-machine for ruling in flat tints, etc. See
ruling-machine . - noun In line-engraving, a straight steel bar supported on cleats, to which a socket is so fitted that it slides evenly and steadily backward and forward.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun One who rules; one who exercises sway or authority; a governor.
- noun A straight or curved strip of wood, metal, etc., with a smooth edge, used for guiding a pen or pencil in drawing lines. Cf.
Rule , n., 7 (a). - noun See under
Parallel .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A (usually
rigid ),flat ,rectangular measuring or drawing device withgraduations inunits ofmeasurement ; arule ; astraightedge withmarkings ; ameasure . - noun A person who
rules orgoverns ; a person who exercisesdominion or controlling power over others.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a person who rules or commands
- noun measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ruler.
Examples
-
One more thing, “our rulers” are not prophets, and they are not iconicnal characters cannonized beyond mistakes, being a ruler is a high ranked government job.
Global Voices in English » Egypt: A Dog Named Anwar El Sadat 2009
-
Tyranny - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
-
The ruler is female, and thus only men live in the ooku, 800 of them in their own exclusive world.
*Ooku: The Inner Chambers Books 1 and 2 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading 2009
-
“The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.”
-
His ruler is a refreshing character in comics, a powerful woman who knows her own mind and carries through actions without doubt.
*Ooku: The Inner Chambers Books 1 and 2 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading 2009
-
And it's not clear that any ruler is going to be able to come up with the right combination of policies that could allow North Korea to survive and prosper well into the future.
-
By pressing the button the digits illuminate and the ruler is ready to go.
-
One party country, One ruler, and, that ruler is Big biz.
Democratic senator: Public health insurance option dead 2009
-
Thrax is the 66th Imprator and the ninth ruler from the Lahaxan bloodline to ascend to the Great Throne.
The Codex Continual » Mantharâs Notes: Kharndam Calendars (Part III) 2009
-
And it's not clear that any ruler is going to be able to come up with the right combination of policies that could allow North Korea to survive and prosper well into the future.
jmjarmstrong commented on the word ruler
JM has encountered some managers who, given an inch, think they’re a ruler.
May 25, 2011