Regular
/ˈrɛɡjələr/noun
Conforming to an accepted standard, pattern, or rule.
Did you know?Regular comes from Latin *rēgulāris*, from *rēgula* (“rule, straight piece of wood”), tied to the same ancient root behind *royal* and *regal* — words of power and authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃reǵ-
“to straighten, to rule”
Latin
Latin
rēx / rēgere
“king / to rule, direct”
Latin
Latin
rēgula
“a straight rule; a standard”
Late Latin
Latin
rēgulāris
“conforming to a rule or standard”
Old French
Old French
reguler / regulier
“regular, orderly; canonical”
Middle English
English
regular
“ordered according to rule; canonical”
Modern English
English
regular
“conforming to an accepted standard or pattern”