Meginregla

Meginregla is an Icelandic term that translates roughly to "principal rule" or "main principle." In Icelandic scholarly and legal writing, it is used to denote a central norm that guides interpretation, decision making, or conduct within a system. The concept serves as a baseline from which other rules, exceptions, or procedures derive their authority.

Etymology and scope: The word is a compound of megin, meaning main or principal, and regla, meaning rule. As such, meginregla is not a specific statute in itself but rather a foundational rule or guiding principle that informs how rules are applied across various contexts.

Applications: In law, meginregla can indicate the overarching principle that shapes statutory interpretation or the allocation of duties, often invoked to elevate core values such as fairness, good faith, or public welfare. In philosophy and ethics, it designates a foundational normative claim that underpins judgment and reasoning. In logic or linguistics, it may refer to a central rule that governs inference or grammatical structure. Because it describes a general guiding idea rather than a concrete provision, the exact content of a meginregla varies by discipline and jurisdiction.

Usage notes: The term is typically cited as a guiding standard rather than an exhaustive rule set. It is frequently discussed in relation to secondary rules, exceptions, or procedural norms that operate within a given framework.

See also: Fundamental principle; Normative principle; Principle of interpretation; Guiding rule.