ruler

[roo-ler]

noun

1. a person who rules or governs; sovereign.

2. Also a strip of wood, metal, or other material having a straight edge and usually marked off in inches or centimeters, used for drawing lines, measuring, etc.

3. a person or thing that rules paper, wood, etc.

4. Astrology.,  the planet primarily associated with any sign of the zodiac or any house of the horoscope.

   The ruler of Aries is Mars. The ruler of Taurus is Venus.

ruler

/ ˈruːlə /

noun

1. a person who rules or commands

2. Also called: rule. a strip of wood, metal, or other material, having straight edges graduated usually in millimetres or inches, used for measuring and drawing straight lines

Other Word Forms

• subruler noun
• underruler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruler¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; rule, -er ¹

Example Sentences

"My tools are simple: a ruler, pencils, coloured pencils and glue," he says.

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"Twenty years of Afghan-US partnership must not be forgotten," the coalition's statement said, nodding to the two-decade effort launched by the US in 2001 to overthrow Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and establish security in the country.

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Portugal, the country's former colonial ruler, has called for a return to constitutional order, with its foreign ministry urging "all those involved to refrain from any act of institutional or civic violence".

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A subsequent court ruling granted custody to Sheikh Saeed, but Ms Javadli says she received assurances from those involved in her case that the deal with Dubai's ruler would not be affected.

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Despotic regimes have their own way of holding rulers accountable.

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Related Words

• czar 
• emperor 
• king 
• monarch 
• shah 
• sultan