English
regular
Regular comes from Latin rēgulāris ‘continuing rules for guidance’, from rēgula ‘rule’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘move in a straight line’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘move in a straight line’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErēgula‘rule’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErēgulāris‘continuing rules for guidance’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400reguler
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reguler
- Englishearliest quotation 1868-69regular
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘move in a straight line’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErēgula‘rule’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErēgulāris‘continuing rules for guidance’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400reguler
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reguler
- Englishearliest quotation 1868-69regular
Earliest quotation: 1868-69, Louisa May Alcott: “I don’t see how you can write and act…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘move in a straight line’
right, real, source, director, rich, royal, direction, address, direct, correct, region, dress, rank, roy, arrangement, radar, rack, ana, regime, arrange, rogue, resurrection, ruler, rex, interrogation, raj, rake, erect, rector, insurrection, regent, rani, anorexia, rectify, regal, regency, rectum, rajah, rhesus, incorrigible, 104 more
through Latin rēgula ‘rule’
through Latin rēgulāris ‘continuing rules for guidance’
Today it means
adj Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / regular