| noun | a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior “it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast” |
| noun | something regarded as a normative example “the convention of not naming the main character” |
| noun | prescribed guide for conduct or action |
| noun | (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice |
| noun | a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct “their principles of composition characterized all their works” |
| noun | the duration of a monarch's or government's power “during the rule of Elizabeth” |
| noun | dominance or power through legal authority “France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa” |
| noun | directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted “he knew the rules of chess” |
| noun | any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order “the rule of St. Dominic” |
| noun | a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system “the principle of the conservation of mass” |
| noun | (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems “he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs” |
| 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 |
| verb | exercise authority over; as of nations “Who is governing the country now?” |
| verb | decide with authority “The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed” |
| verb | be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance “Money reigns supreme here” |
| verb | decide on and make a declaration about “find someone guilty” |
| verb | have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac |
| verb | mark or draw with a ruler “rule the margins” |
| verb | keep in check “rule one's temper” |
| regulate | verb | bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations |
| formularize | verb | express as a formula |
| rule | verb | decide with authority |
| dominate | verb | be in control |
| formulate | verb | prepare according to a formula |
| government | noun | the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit |
| governor | noun | the head of a state government |
| governing | noun | the act of governing; exercising authority |
| governance | noun | the act of governing; exercising authority |
| rule | noun | dominance or power through legal authority |
| ruler | noun | a person who rules or commands |
| decree | noun | a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge) |
| predominant | adjective | most frequent or common |
| predomination | noun | the state of being predominant over others |
| predominance | noun | the state of being predominant over others |
| reign | noun | a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful |
| prevalence | noun | a superiority in numbers or amount |
| ruling | noun | the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself) |
| finding | noun | the decision of a court on issues of fact or law |
| rein | noun | any means of control |