1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Rule.

2. (a.) Predominant; chief; reigning; controlling; as, a ruling passion; a ruling sovereign.

3. (a.) Used in marking or engraving lines; as, a ruling machine or pen.

4. (n.) The act of one who rules; ruled lines.

5. (n.) A decision or rule of a judge or a court, especially an oral decision, as in excluding evidence.

absolute act action appointment arch armipotent ascendant at the head authoritarian authoritative authorized autocratic average award banner besetting bill boss brevet bull bylaw canon capital cardinal central champion chief clothed with authority cogent commanding common competent condemnation consequential considerable consideration controlling crowning current decision declaration decree decree-law decreement decretal decretum deliverance determination diagnosis dictate dictation dictum diktat directive dominant doom duly constituted dynamic edict edictum effective eminent empowered enactment energetic epidemic ex officio fiat finding first focal forceful forcible foremost form formality formula formulary general governing great head headmost hegemonic hegemonistic high-potency high-powered high-pressure high-tension imperative important in ascendancy in charge in chief in force in power in the ascendant influential institution ipse dixit irresistible jus law leading legislation lex magisterial main master measure mighty mighty in battle momentous monocratic normal official on the throne operative order ordinance ordinary ordonnance overriding overruling pandemic paramount pivotal popular potent powerful precedent predominant predominate predominating preeminent prepollent preponderant preponderate prepotent prescript prescription prestigious prevailing prevalent primal primary prime principal proclamation prognosis prominent pronouncement pronunciamento puissant rampant ranking regnant regulating regulation regulative regulatory reigning rescript resolution rife routine rubric rule running senatus consult senatus consultum senior sentence sovereign standard standing order star statute stellar stereotyped striking strong substantial supereminent superior supreme swaying telling topflight totalitarian ukase usual valid verdict vigorous vital weighty widespread