regle

Regle is a French noun usually written with an acute accent as règle. It has several related meanings centered on the ideas of standard, guideline, or measuring device. In everyday use, it denotes a rule or principle that governs conduct, thought, or procedure, as in règles de politesse (politeness rules) or règles de sécurité (safety rules). It also appears in mathematical or logical contexts, such as the règle de trois, a proportional method used to solve problems.

A second, closely related sense refers to a measuring instrument: a ruler or straightedge used in drawing and measuring. In this sense, a règle is a flat, straight-edged tool, often made of wood, plastic, or metal, calibrated to measure lengths.

The term also has a specialized meaning in religious or monastic life. A règle can denote a religious rule or constitution that prescribes the daily life, practices, and organization of a community, such as the Règle bénédictine (the Rule of Saint Benedict).

Etymology and usage: the word comes from Latin regula, meaning a straight rod or standard for measurement, passed into Old French as regle and later spelled with the circumflex to indicate vowel length. In modern French, the accent is essential for the word’s pronunciation and meaning, though historical or typographical variants may appear in certain contexts.

Translations into English capture the dual senses: rule or guideline (rule) and measuring stick (ruler). The plural règles encompasses multiple standards, norms, or instruments.