regular

Where does the word "regular" come from? It comes from Latin regula, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Regular’s story begins in Latin: regula meant “a straight stick, a rule.” A straight stick, a rule, from regere (to guide, rule). Within Latin, it grew into regularis by ancient. Following a rule, from regula. It reached English by 1300s as regular. Settled as the English word for something occurring in a consistent, expected pattern. Today, regular means occurring at consistent intervals, or conforming to a standard or rule.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient regula "a straight stick, a rule", a straight stick, a rule, from regere (to guide, rule).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient regularis "following a rule", following a rule, from regula.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s regular "occurring in a consistent, expected pattern", settled as the English word for something occurring in a consistent, expected pattern.