What is the Latin word for rule?

The usual Latin words for “rule” are rēgula, norma, amussis; also lēx, praescrībō, praeceptum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“rule” in Latin

rēgularule, bar; ruler (measuring or drawing device)normaa carpenter’s square; a norm, standard (rule, precept)amussisa ruler, a mason's or carpenter's straight edge; precision lēxthe legal machinery of a state, the law; a law, statute, bill; the laws regarded as a body, the constitution praescrībōto write in front; to prefix; to order, appoint, direct, command or prescribe praeceptumteaching, lesson; precept; order, command imperiumThe empire, state, imperial government, realm, dominion.; The right or power to command or be in control; dominion.; Abs potestāspower, ability; mastery, control; authority, jurisdiction diciōmilitary or political authority, power, control, rule; sway, control prī̆ncipātusfirst place; rule; leadership

The English word rule itself goes back to Latin regō, through regula.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

rule s.

An instrument for drawing lines and measuring, regula (for drawing straight lines): norma (for measuring squares): amussis (a carpenter’s rule).

A law, regulation, constitution, lex (a prescribed method of acting or of doing anything; hence ☞ leges dicendi, “the rules of grammar,” in which case regulae would not be Latin): praescriptum, praeceptum; alicujus rei, or with a gerund in di: ☞ regula (an instrument for drawing straight lines) and norma (PROP., a square, an instrument for marking out right angles) can never be employed with reference to a single rule or prescription, but only when “the rule” is equivalent to “a body of rules, a code;” hence these words always take a genitive, or there is a circumlocution; as, regula ad quam aliquid dirigitur, or qua aliquid judicatur; norma qua, or ad quam, aliquid dirigitur. ☞ There is no plur. regulae, or normae, in the sense of “rules.” To prescribe a rule, legem dare, scribere; praeceptum dare, tradere; praecipere; praescribere. To give rules concerning anything, praecipere, tradere de aliqua re: to observe or follow a rule, legem servare, observare; praescriptum servare; praeceptum tenere (☞ regulam servare is not Latin). Made by line and rule, ad legem ac regulam compositus (Quint., 12, 10, 50). It is to be observed as a rule, not to, etc., tenendum est hoc alicujus rei praeceptum, ne, etc. It is a rule in anything that, haec lex in aliqua re sancitur, ut. It is an exception to the rule, hoc excipio. I depart from my rule, *discedo a more meo: to live by rule, dirigere vitam ad certam normam; *vitam severis legibus astringere.

Government, dominion, imperium: potestas: ditio: principatus: dominatio: dominatus: regnum. SYN. in DOMINION.

rule v.

Transitively, To draw lines with an instrument, lineas ad regulam dirigere, exigere: to rule paper, *chartam lineis signare, distinguere: ruled paper, *charta lineis ex atramento signata. A ruled table, tabula lineis distincta (Gesner).

To govern, imperare, imperitare, alicujus esse imperatorem, imperio regere or imperio tenere aliquem, aliquid (to have the command over a person or thing): dominari, dominationem habere in aliquem (to exercise unlimited power over; especially figuratively): praeesse alicui or alicui rei (to preside over). To rule a city, urbem imperio regere: to be ruled by anybody, imperio alicujus teneri; teneri in alicujus ditione et potestate: to submit to be ruled by anybody, imperium alicujus sustinere; se regi ab aliquo pati (opposed to imperium alicujus detrectare). The mind rules the body, animus regit corpus: to be ruled by ambition, ambitione teneri.

To manage, constituere: ordinare: decernere: dirigere.

Intransitively, To be in command, civitatem regere; imperium tractare; regnare esse in imperio; potiri rerum; potiri sceptra (Lucr.), sceptris (Verg.), regnis (Velleius); imperio uti (Sall.); regnum (in loco) exercere (Plin.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for rule?: The usual Latin words for “rule” are rēgula, norma, amussis; also lēx, praescrībō, praeceptum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.