| 释义 |
regularadj.n.adv. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French reguler, regulier; Latin rēgulāris. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman reguler and Middle French reguler, regulier (French régulier ) (of days) which can be used to determine the weekday on which a given month starts (1119 in Anglo-Norman in jurz regulers , plural noun, lit. ‘regular days’), (of a person or group) belonging to a monastic order, relating to or connected with a monastic rule or those subject to it (both late 12th cent.), in accordance with ethics and moral principles (beginning of the 13th cent.), developing in a uniform and constant manner (1270), subject to the laws of nature (1370), harmonious (c1377), (as noun) number associated with a particular month or year that is added to the value of one calendrical variable to find that of another (1119 in Anglo-Norman), member of a religious order (c1334 or earlier in Anglo-Norman; apparently not paralleled in continental French until later: 1596) and its etymon classical Latin rēgulāris (of metal) capable of being formed into bars, in post-classical Latin also usual, normal (5th cent. in Augustine), based on canon law (6th cent.), based on monastic rule (7th cent.; from 8th cent. (frequently from 11th cent.) in British sources), of the nature of or consistent with a rule (from 8th cent. in British sources), bound by a monastic or other religious rule (frequently from early 11th cent. in British sources), (in geometry, with reference to shape or body) regular (1267, 1344 in British sources), (in grammar, of a word form) adhering to the usual morphological rules of a language (15th cent. in a British source), (as noun) member of a religious order (8th cent.; frequently from 12th cent. in British sources) < rēgula regula n. + -āris -ar suffix1. Compare Old Occitan reglar (13th cent.), Spanish regular (second half of the 14th cent.), Portuguese regular (15th cent.; 14th cent. as †rregular ), Italian regolare (14th cent.). Compare ruler adj., ruler n.2Many senses of the English adjective are only paralleled later in French, e.g.: ‘done in accordance with established legal procedure’ (1676), ‘(of a polygon) having all its sides and its angles equal’ (1680), ‘(of a part of speech) following the normal pattern of inflection or conjugation’ (1690), ‘(of troops) properly and permanently organized’ (1751), ‘(of a flower, corolla, calyx, etc.) having its parts uniform in form and size’ (1772 in the passage translated in quot. 1785 at sense A. 2d, or earlier), ‘(of a bodily function or an illness) following a normal course’ (1808), ‘recurring or repeated at fixed times’ (1808), ‘(of a service, etc.) recurring or repeated frequently’ (1854), ‘(of a person) doing the same thing or going to the same place frequently or habitually’ (1910 in locataire régulier regular tenant), ‘(colloquially, of a person) well-behaved, honest, respectable’ (1922). The Latin word was also borrowed into other Germanic languages, in some cases via other languages. Compare Middle Dutch regulaer (with specific reference to monks) and (as later independent borrowings) Dutch regulier (16th cent., via French), regulair (19th cent., via German regulär , which is in turn via French), German regulär (end of the 17th cent., via French; second half of the 16th cent. as †regular , in this form directly < Latin), Swedish reguljär (c1630 as †regular ; also (now rare) regulär ), Danish regulær (18th cent.). It is uncertain whether the following quot. should be taken as showing an earlier instance of sense A. 2a, or an occasional borrowing of the sense ‘(of metal) capable of being formed into bars’ of classical Latin rēgulāris: ▸ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 199 Whan bras is wel y-purged & y-clensed of all vices, þanne it is made able to be wrought wiþ hamour and regulare [L. regulare]. With lunar regular at sense B. 7(b) compare post-classical Latin regularis lunaris (early 11th cent. in a British source: see below); with ferial regular at sense B. 7(a) compare post-classical Latin regularis ferialis (13th cent. in a British source) and regularis feriarum (early 11th cent. in a British source: see below). Compare earlier unassimilated borrowing of post-classical Latin regularis (in sense B. 7; also regularis lunaris) into Old English (only in Byrhtferð), where the word is used with Latin case inflections (there is apparently no continuity of use between this early learned borrowing and the later word):OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. ii. 34 Vton nu gleawlice swyðe geseon hwanon ærest arison þa regulares þe man hæt feriarum.OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. ii. 34 Aprilis hæfð þrittig daga and anne regularem.OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. ii. 44 Her we hig wyllað amearkian, þa epactas and eac þa regulares lunares.OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. iv. 54 October hæfð an and þrittig daga and fif regulares. A. adj. 1. Christian Church. society > faith > church government > monasticism > [adjective] > in accordance with a rule a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 373 Patrik rered þere a chirche and dede þer chanouns reguler [L. canonicos regulares; ?a1475 anon. tr. chanones reguler]. c1475 in F. J. Furnivall (1862) 142 (MED) Kateryne, thys day schalt thow see And [read An] howse of wommen reguler. 1528 sig. c vi Of seculer folke he can make reguler, And agayne of reguler seculer. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) III. 16 Translatit it fra secular preistis syne To channonis regularis of Sanct Augustyne. 1590 H. Swinburne ii. f. 64 Of Ecclesiasticall persons there be two sortes, the one Regular, the other Secular. 1631 J. Weever 128 These Priests were called Secular, and such as led a Monasticall life Regular. And so Canons were both secular and regular. 1696 E. Phillips (new ed.) at Vicar The Pope's Grand Vicar, who is a Cardinal, has a Jurisdiction..over all Secular and Regular Priests [etc.]. 1737 R. Challoner xviii. 185 There are certain Regular Congregations of Clergy living in common, tho' not under the Tie of Religious Vows; as the Oratorians. 1766 W. Blackstone II. 27 The intrigues of the regular clergy, or monks of the Benedictine and other rules, under arch-bishop Dunstan and his successors. 1800 R. Churton iii. 49 He first visited the Regular and Monastic clergy. 1836 VI. 373/2 Besides this auxiliary force, the regular clergy, or monastic orders, take upon them many of these functions. 1893 (new ed.) 212/1 The idea of a Regular Clerk is that of a combination of functions. 1909 2 Apr. 7/4 Lady Maud Barrett..has just entered the noviceship of the Canonesses Regular of St. Augustine. 1966 33 24 The profession contracted sharply..with the elimination of the regular clergy at the Reformation. 2007 (Nexis) 30 Aug. 13 The regular canons of the order of St Augustine lived a life of prayer, study and reflection. society > faith > church government > monasticism > [adjective] > relating to an order 1440 in A. H. Thompson (1927) III. 350 Defautes done as welle in diuine service and regulere obseruaunces. ?1490 W. Caxton 139 He that otherwise dooth shall be correct wyth reguler disciplyne. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. DDv All outwarde reguler obseruaunces. 1597 G. Fletcher xxiv. f. 74v The Chagi or Fagi, who though they be of the Turkish Priesthood, and not of any monasticall or regular profession, yet are in a manner as begging Friars. 1691 A. Gavin (ed. 3) 141 Their Churches are more adorned, and their other Regular-places more comporting with the modern way of Building. 1763 F. Warner vii. 326 He [sc. Cuthbert] wrote a book of the orders of his church; the precepts of a regular life; and monastic institutes delivered unto him by the monks. 1832 Oct. 292 The first Abbot of Dryburgh was Roger, who..made the first establishment of a regular house in 1152. 1897 7 Aug. 877/1 Flourishing church organizations existed..some of them of the monastic or regular, and others of the secular foundation. 1903 17 2 An unsuccessful attempt to induce his brethren..to embrace a life more in accord with the regular observances, to which they were bound, at least theoretically, by their name of ‘canons’. 2003 J. Clegg 28 They [sc. the Templars and Hospitallers] testify to the flexible way in which the Regular life could be employed during the Middle Ages. 2. the world > space > shape > symmetry or regularity > [adjective] c1450 in (1913) 131 61 (MED) Blissede be þi nosse, in righte lyne regulere, In parties euen thi vesage mesurynge, With ouertys tueyne, thurgh concordande infere. 1584 R. Scot xiii. xix. 316 The regular, the irregular, the coloured and cleare glasses. a1613 E. Brerewood (1614) xiii. 111 The Earth at the first forming of it, was in the superficies, regular, and sphericall. 1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus iii, in 127 The regular disposure of the rugged excrescencies in the yearly shoots of the Pine. 1716 Lady M. W. Montagu 14 Sept. (1965) I. 266 I can-not, however, tell you that her features are regular. 1792 A. Robertson i. ix. 127 It is a handsome regular structure, with wings, situated in a pleasant park. 1811 (Royal Soc.) 101 298 The arguments which I have given in the foregoing article, where only nebulæ of an irregular round figure were considered, need not be repeated when a regular circular form is presented to our view. 1840 E. Blyth et al. 640 [Sea-urchins] are either regular or irregular,—the regular ones having the mouth in the middle of the underside, and the vent opposite. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ I. x. 172 The conjuror..showed his small regular teeth in an impish..grin. 1901 M. C. Dickerson iii. 273 They may make a waxen comb of perfectly regular cells as homes for their young. 1932 J. B. Harris in Apr. 42/2 A green rectangle, so regular as to suggest the work of sentient creatures. 1964 E. Salisbury (ed. 2) ii. 31 Regular rows of drill-sown plants. 1990 A. S. Byatt ii. 11 He was a small man, with very soft, startling black hair and small, regular features. 2001 Jan. 13/1 Regular patterns such as stripes, checks and geometric designs are the easiest to hang but will emphasise out-of-true walls. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > [adjective] > of geometrical relation 1570 H. Billingsley in tr. Euclid xi. f. 319 v A Cube, a Tetrahedron, an Octohedron, a Dodecahedron and an Icosahedron are called regular bodies. 1635 J. Babington 42 The cube..is accounted one of the five regular bodies. 1653 tr. (new ed.) 162 The same reflexions may be seen in a Regular Polygon. 1714 tr. I. Barrow (rev. ed.) To the Reader The noble Contemplation of the five regular Bodies..cannot without great Injustice be pretermitted. 1775 A. Burn v. 122 I hope to be excused in not giving particular Rules concerning regular Polygons. 1823 H. J. Brooke 137 Distinguishable from regular octahedrons by the unequal inclinations of the plane. 1847 E. Loomis vi. 99 A circle may be described about any regular polygon. 1935 A. H. G. Palmer & K. S. Snell xiii. 257 Use the principle of virtual work to show that there is a symmetrical position of equilibrium in which ABCD is half of a regular hexagon. 1998 19 Sept. 30/2 Among them are regular icosahedrons (solids with 20 sides), and irregular polyhedrons with 18 sides. 1665 (Royal Soc.) 1 105 If curve, whether regular or irregular? if regular, whether Elliptick, or Parabolar, or Hyperbolical? 1704 J. Harris I Regular Curves, are such Curves as the Perimeters of the Conick Sections, which are always curved after the same Regular Geometrical manner. 1736 B. Langley ii. 113 With regard to their being described at equal and regular Distances about their Centers, they are therefore called regular Curves; whereas such as e are called irregular Curves, as not having any respect to a Centre. 1754 J. Hill Parabola... This is one of the regular conic sections. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [adjective] > having specific arrangement or number of member parts 1760 J. Lee iii. xxii. 223 The Corolla is said to be..regular, when it is equal in respect to the Figure, Magnitude, and Proportion of the Parts. 1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau iii. 36 One general division of flowers is into regular and irregular. The first are they whose parts all spring uniformly from the centre of the flower, and terminate in the circumference of a circle. 1807 J. E. Smith 256 An equal Corolla is not only regular, but all its divisions are of one size. 1849 J. H. Balfour §965 Linaria vulgaris exhibits what Linnæus called Peloria.., by the flowers being 5-spurred instead of 1-spurred, and thus becoming regular. 1882 10 Aug. 346/1 Lines are comparatively rare on regular flowers, but they tend to appear as soon as the flower becomes even slightly bilateral. 1955 53 494 The flowers all perfect, with regular, tubular corolla. 2005 17 336/1 Radially symmetric flowers (also called regular or actinomorphic) have two or more axes and include many monocots. 3. the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > methodical (of persons) > of actions the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adjective] > conforming to a standard rule > characterized by the presence or operation of ?1558 H. Baker tr. O. Fine (new ed.) sig. B.iiv The measure of a natural daye equall and measurable according vnto whiche are made the supputations of the meane and reguler mouementes astronomicalls. 1593 R. Hooker i. ii. 49 No certaine end could euer be attained, vnlesse the actions whereby it is attained were regular, that is to say, made suteable..vnto their end, by some Canon rule or lawe. 1611 T. Tuke tr. St. Vincent of Lérins i. f. 3v How I might by some certaine, and as it were generall and regular way, discerne the truth of the Catholicke faith, from the falsehood of wicked heresies. 1637 T. Nabbes sig. C3 All these are humours, and must be my servants... But I must labour to preserve them regular, And not exceeding their proportions Of substance or of quality. 1647 J. Howell 152 The English speech though it be rich copious, and significant,..yet under favour, I cannot call it a regular language. 1668 G. Etherege i. i. 5 The inconvenience of keeping Regular hours. 1690 E. Stillingfleet (1698) III. v. 184 True Courage must be a Regular thing; it must have not only a good End, but a wise Choice of Means. 1722 J. Quincy (ed. 2) 380/2 Regular, Constant and Uniform, in opposition to Irregular..; both frequently applied to Diseases. 1762 D. Hume (new ed.) VI. ii. 159 The English parliament had now raised itself to be a regular check and controul upon royal power. 1797 II. 220/1 When it [sc. the light] comes from above, in such a regular, proportioned, and uninterrupted manner. 1812 M. Faraday Let. Oct. in P. Day (1999) ii. 13 I keep regular hours, enter not intentionally into pleasures productive of evil..and act up to what the world calls good. 1815 J. Smith II. 292 In proportion as discoveries were multiplied, the want of a regular and appropriate nomenclature increased. 1867 W. W. Smyth 249 Often the avarice or ineptness of some holder of surface fields operates as a bar to the regular working of colliery proprietors. 1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato III. 133 He supposes the philosopher to proceed by regular steps, until he arrives at the idea of good. 1905 20 June 2/2 Battle-practice has for 1905 been ordered on more regular and practical lines than hitherto. 1927 S. T. Warner 45 A great many good resolutions to keep regular hours. 1971 J. C. Reid ii. 16 This body of aristocrats and wealthy supporters set out to fashion regular and systematic procedures for contests. 2002 83 351/1 Future efforts must include more regular and uniform geographic sampling of populations. the world > movement > absence of movement > [adjective] > stable 1632 E. Reynolds 40 Rivers which rise from narrow fountaines, have yet by reason of a constant and regular supply a great breadth in remote channels. 1735 M. Clare xix. 65 The Air..so makes a constant regular Stream [of water] to rise, thro' the metal Pipe P. 1789 J. Abercrombie 9 A constant succession is supported, whereby to have always a regular supply advanced to a proper age for fruiting. 1819 P. Nicholson II. 198/2 With respect to the lime-furnace, the fire requires to be furnished with a regular supply of air. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iii. 309 The regular salary, however, was the smallest part of the gains of an official man of that age. 1863 S. Smiles 237 The slating trade did not keep him in regular employment. 1922 (Brit. Commerc. Gas Assoc.) i. 36/1 This pressure is regulated by governors between the holders and the street to ensure a regular and not excessive pressure. 1959 10 Nov. 12/7 More than 400,000 people between 65 and 70..still in regular work would then draw pensions. 1999 25 Jan. i. 6/7 The firecrest is spending the winter in this sheltered and balmy place, where it can find a regular supply of insects on which to feed. the world > time > frequency > [adjective] > periodical or recurring at regular intervals 1639 J. Mayne v. ii. 53 D'you think I'le have your Factor move before me, Like..Some grave Clock wound up to a regular pace? 1677 Ld. Guildford 20 When two strings are tuned in unison..the motion will be so augmented by succeeding regular pulses, that the enclosed Air may be brought to ring and produce a Tone. 1753 July 318/2 Her pulse easy, bold, and regular. 1781 W. Cowper 530 Exact and regular the sounds will be. 1824 Ld. Byron cxiii. 120 With awful footsteps regular as rhyme. 1876 T. Hardy I. i. 16 Quick regular brushings against the heather. 1923 7 May 12/4 About ten minutes past 7 a faint but regular throb in the air was picked up by those with sharp ears. 1945 92 i. 342/1 In this method of determining the distance of a radiolocated object, short radio-frequency pulses are sent out at regular intervals. 1960 J. F. Lehmann ii. vi. 90 The drone of aircraft passing far overhead rose and fell in regular rhythm for several hours. 2002 Aug. 196 Everyone should be looking after their pearlies with regular visits to the dentist. the world > time > frequency > [adjective] > periodical or recurring at regular intervals > regular or occurring at fixed times 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais i. 2 The week..which they call the week of the three Thursdayes; for it had three of them by meanes of their regular Leap-yeares, (called Bissextils) [Fr. la sepmaine..qu'on nomme la sepmaine des troys Jeudys: car il y en eut troys, à cause des irreguliers bissextes]. 1733 J. Arbuthnot 135 What..demonstrates the Plague to be endemial to Egypt, is its regular Invasion and going off at certain Seasons. 1781 W. Cowper 430 How regular his meals, how sound he sleeps! 1797 IV. 750/1 The lunisolar year..was in use long before any regular intercalations were made. 1811 J. Austen I. ii. 21 To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away one's independence. 1845 C. Dickens i. 15 ‘There's nothing,’ said Toby, ‘more regular in its coming round than dinner-time, and nothing less regular in its coming round than dinner.’ 1886 R. L. Stevenson viii. 68 I had to serve at the meals, which the captain took at regular hours. 1916 G. H. Gerould vi. 185 For the regular festivals of the liturgical year, they give exempla, sometimes drawn from the lives of the saints and sometimes not. 1932 10 385/1 Such affairs [sc. fairs, concerts, etc.] will not be regular events but it will be practical to have them whenever the residents want them. 1960 C. Day Lewis ii. 35 At four-thirty I had to tear myself away for the next regular event of the day. 2008 (Nexis) 29 Jan. 8 An initial game..was so popular that the fixture has now become a regular event, on the last Sunday of the month. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > that does something habitually 1782 J. P. Macmahon tr. L. S. Mercier 66 There is always at the Table d'Hotes a set of regular customers, whose complaisant stomach digests as fast as their devouring jaws can supply its unconscionable cravings. 1823 28 2/1 We are not regular readers of the Edinburgh Review. 1841 C. Dickens xi. 296 The regular Maypole customers..each..in..his allotted seat in the chimney corner. 1890 C. Dixon 41 Of the five species of Warbler that stray here in the spring, three of them..are regular visitors to France. 1911 G. Stratton-Porter vii. 108 I have orders to fill for regular customers. 1947 58 11/2 She had observed the effect of punishment on ‘regular’ offenders in a well-known Glasgow prison. 1973 ‘H. Howard’ x. 125 Most of the ladies who patronize my salon are regular clients. 1995 N. Hornby (1996) iv. 55 The staff are surly, and the regular clientele are either terrifying or unconscious. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] 1786 J. Burgoyne ii. ii. 35 Instead of my regular meal at Furnival's-Inn, here am I transported to Berkley-Square. 1839 C. Dickens vii. 63 ‘We'll put you into your regular bed-room to-morrow, Nickleby,’ said Squeers. 1839 C. Dickens xv. 133 It's past my regular time for going to bed. 1895 6 Dec. He must have his regular eye-opener every morning or there is trouble. 1915 10 Aug. 5/6 I was called away to take charge of a fast small ship that was going to Gallipoli to fetch the wounded, as the regular doctor was ill. 1989 S. Drache i. i. 13 The van left at the regular time for the trip back to Datschlav. 1994 11 Sept. xiii. 2/5 Couldn't get an appointment today with my regular barber. 1827 5 May 1/2 Injustice, bribery, oppression and treachery—these are as regular occurrences, as though they were immoveable corner stones. 1881 Dec. 212/2 Thanks to the regular applicating of the scrubbing-brush, white and smooth. 1899 28 Oct. 1101/2 Steam-lorries..are in regular use to-day in the streets of Manchester and Liverpool. 1948 A. C. Kinsey et al. ix. 301 The younger-adolescent boys begin regular sexual activity of some sort..more or less coincidently with the onset of adolescence. 1972 Nov. 42/1 It is green and lush and..very quiet, the only regular sounds the gurgling of the creek and the chirping of birds. 2006 R. Dawkins x. 357 A home for old people, where death is a regular occurrence. 4. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > [adjective] > orderly, regular, or consistent 1590 W. Clever 7 Pure and regular dyet. ?1608 S. Lennard tr. P. Charron ii. iv. 271 Wisdome is a sweet and regular conduct and cariage of our soule, guiding it with measure and proportion. 1625 S. Bradwell 13 Six things, wherein a man ought always to be moderate and regular. 1. The Aire... 2. Meate, and Drinck, 3. Repletion, and Evacuation [etc.]. 1688 in J. Hunter (1918) I. 502 [Asked] if the heritours and members of session wer regular..the minister approvd them..as dewtifull in their places. 1733 J. Addison 54 The University of Padua is of late much more regular than it was formerly, tho' it is not yet safe walking the Streets after Sun-set. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter ii. vi. 200 Their..behaviour..was much more regular than could well have been expected from sailors..so long confined to a ship. 1779 S. Johnson Smith in IV. 59 He grew first regular, and then pious. 1800 E. Hervey II. 124 Lead a more regular life than you have done since you entered the army. 1879 (new ed.) IV. 22/2 All they intend to send are regular people, neither factious nor vicious in religion. 1909 G. Stein 194 He thought he could..be happy in his old way of regular and quiet living. 1918 Oct. 519/2 The girl was delighted to see the improvement that the regular and quiet life had made in him. the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > methodical (of persons) the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [adjective] > observing a standard of conduct the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > that does something habitually > regular or unfailing 1602 S. Daniel xxiv Eu'n the Scepter which might all command, Seeing her s' vnpartiall, equall, regular, Was pleas'd to put it selfe into her hand. 1669 J. Leeke (title) The Regular Architect, or the General Rule of the five Orders of Architecture. 1734 A. Pope 11 Nature well known, no Miracles remain, Comets are regular, and Clodio plain. 1760 S. Fielding II. xxxi. 1 Mrs Herner and I set out at the very Moment she had appointed; for I soon found that she was as regular as a Pendulum. 1835 J. Kincaid xiii. 332 Sir Arthur, in all his movements for twenty years, had been as regular as Shrewsbury clock. 1883 F. M. Crawford i The Herr Doctor was a regular man, and always appeared at his window at the same hour. 1926 in J. E. Dobie 90 As regular in his habits as a clock. 1972 87 212 Fourier..could speak..of human communities as if they were as regular in their operations as solar systems. 1995 G. Harris in C. Hollin iv. 79 An ‘easy’ child is described as being..regular in behaviour such as sleeping and feeding, and as accepting new experiences well. the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy > of specific parts 1694 P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais iv. lxiv. 255 Railing at the Inventers of Hour-glasses and Dials, as being unnecessary things, there being no Clock more regular [Fr. iuste] than the Belly. 1783 1 435 Her belly is regular. 1807 17 191 Her tongue was not furred; and her bowels were regular. 1891 12 Mar. 254/1 Flowed somewhat a few months ago, but catamenia as a rule regular and normal. 1919 Mar. 325/1 Regular movements of the bowels are aided by an abundance of exercise and by eating plenty of fruit. 1934 M. T. King ii. 6 If a woman who has been in the habit of having a normal regular monthly ‘period’ should suddenly miss two successive periods, it is most probable that she is pregnant. 1997 23 Dec. i. 11/3 ‘Bowels regular?’ ‘Yes. Where is this leading?’ 1787 2nd Decade 1 313 This patient was regular a few days before I attended her. At the following period she was too weak to have the discharge. 1838 28 July 634/1 She was very regular until six months ago, since which period..the catamenia have been suppressed. 1867 J. Gilliss Let. 30 June in (1993) 137 I eat Graham bread altogether and dried peaches..stewed with brown sugar, and they keep us both pretty regular. 1932 9 Jan. 23 (advt.) To keep regular, eat Post's Bran Flakes every day. 1934 in J. E. Barker (1935) x. 153 I am now 10 stone 10 lbs. 9 ozs., I am very regular and there are no signs of any of the old troubles. 1962 H. Lourie i. 9 When did you start having periods?.. So you've been absolutely regular for fourteen years? 2002 Oct.–Nov. 37 (heading) Get regular with Triphala. This supplement may relieve constipation and promote bowel health. 5. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > inflection > [adjective] > with usual mode of inflection 1611 J. Florio Rules Ital. Tongue in 633 Amongst all the Verbs some are vnder certaine orders, and are called Regular. 1653 R. Lloyd 114 Verbs swarving from the regular Coniugations..are these following. 1766 H. Giral del Pino 38 All Regular Verbs, whose Infinitive is terminated in -ar, are conjugated in the same manner. 1795 L. Murray 61 Verbs passive are called regular, when they form their perfect participle by the addition of d or ed to the verb. 1856 5 128 The plural of adjectives is generally formed, like that of regular nouns, by changing the vowel. 1887 F. F. Roget ix. 117 The four conjugations of so-called Regular Verbs. 1915 30 162 The assumed inflection of sūð as a regular adjective is, to say the least, unusual. 1979 54 240 Forthrightly is therefore a morphologically regular form. 1994 S. Pinker xii. 381 The rest of us, however, will decide that no matter how desirable it may be to convert all irregular verbs into regular ones, this cannot be done by ukase, nor can it be accomplished overnight. the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adjective] > conforming to a standard rule 1643 J. Bramhall 211 I know that there is great difference between a valid and a regular Ordination, and what some choise Divines do write of case of Necessity. 1688 J. Norris ii. iii. 117 To make our self-love Regular and according to Order, we must take care not to mistake our true selves. 1703 II. vii. 303 That Legal regular Convention of a sober and modest Council. 1731 C. Campbell (title) Vitruvius Britannicus,..containing Plans, Elevations and Sections of the Regular Buildings both Public and Private in Great Britain. 1797 II. 234/2 There are eight regular mouldings in ornamenting columns. 1802 C. James at Attack Regular Attack, is that which is carried on in form, according to the rules of art. 1831 1 273 Young ladies making acquaintances so easily, without regular introductions. 1869 F. A. G. Ouseley xv. 95 The intervals between the notes remain unchanged by the imitation. When such is the case, the imitation is said to be strict or regular. 1907 11 Feb. 9/4 It is highly advisable to have done with such expedients, and to resort to regular methods of determining the question whether in any particular case there has been a miscarriage of justice. 1987 23 283 Officials were encouraged to report directly to the palace instead of through the regular channels to their formal superiors. 2006 (Nexis) 22 Mar. 1 With migrants continuing to seek work by regular or irregular means [etc.]. 6. the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adjective] > conforming to a standard rule > conforming to prescribed forms > properly constituted 1617 R. Speght Certaine Qvaeres To Rdr. in sig. F It would admit no such order to bee obserued in the answering thereof, as a regular Responsarie requireth. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac II. 49 Sir, Expect not from me a Regular Answer to your letters. a1687 W. Petty (1691) iv. 70 Sufficient to victual Nine Millions of Persons, as they are Victualled in Ships, and regular Families. a1708 W. Beveridge (1846) VIII. 622 It always was, and still is, practised in all regular parish churches. 1771 C. Burney 177 He has the appearance of a regular family man. 1797 (title page) Including nine different sizes of Jennies..taking all regular sizes (i.e. 12 to be the common difference) up to 360. 1843 vii. 210 The Chinese distinguish six modes of writing their characters:—..The Sung-te is the regular form of the character used in printing. 1871 T. MacKellar (ed. 6) 128 Sometimes pieces will be wanted of a width that is not equal to any regular size, and then two must be used. 1886 C. Scott 28 Thus a regular ewe stock consists of four different ages. 1908 1 Dec. 2/2 A Scotch bagpipe orchestra of two alternated with the regular orchestra. 1967 J. Rechy 68 Danny and the man begin talking about the relative merits of ‘frog kicks’ for the ‘abs’ as opposed to regular situps. 2007 Nov. 114/1 The ‘supercavitation’ torpedo..can travel at 200 knots (regular torpedoes can travel at only 35 knots). society > occupation and work > worker > [adjective] > qualified or trained 1639 J. Woodall (rev. ed.) 234 He [sc. a surgeon] is then being esteemed a Regular person, and..he is admitted to be a Brother..and is styled by the name and honour of a Master of his profession. 1689 in J. Hunter (1918) II. 496 Mr. George Hay, minister att Coupar, a most regular minister, readie to preach. 1712 J. Arbuthnot viii Her condition was now quite desperate; all regular physicians and her nearest relations having given her over. 1748 20 The unthinking Part of Mankind as readily employ these Novices as the regular Apothecary. 1766 14/2 The unfortunate patient..replies, Sir, you have always pretended to be a regular doctor, but I now find you are an errant quack. 1836 W. Irving I. 244 Colter, with the hardihood of a regular trapper, had cast himself loose from the party. a1865 E. C. Gaskell (1866) II. xxii. 228 They fetched him, as a knowledgable man among dumb beasts, till th' regular doctor came. 1883 A. Thomas 46 Having had the strength of mind to abolish the so-called regular ‘cook’. 1907 Apr. 152/1 She had him educated and trained as a regular gardener. 1960 20 654 Patent medicine promoters..condemned the regular doctor's..exorbitant fees, his secret Latin prescriptions. 2004 A. Sanger i. 25 Efforts by ‘regular’ physicians to protect the safety of women to whom dangerous abortifacient potions were being given by ‘irregulars’. 1816 16 Dec. 54/2 It is understood that the coodies [sc. a federalist faction] will support the regular nomination, even if De Witt Clinton should be the man! 1834 14 June 265/2 I was the junior member of the first regular democratic meeting, or ‘caucus’, that..was ever held in Delaware. 1846 W. L. Mackenzie 182 He is a regular Democrat. 1880 Oct. 909/1 They prefer, when the nominations are not too bad, to vote the regular ticket. 1932 24 Aug. 1/3 John B Chapple, regular Republican candidate..charged at Kenosha that John J. Blaine, his Progressive opponent, is a ‘vicious prostitutor of the ex-service men’. 1968 17 Aug. 26/1 This was the state convention of the Loyal Democratic party of Mississippi, purporting to replace the convention held in July by the regular Democratic party. 1996 14 Mar. 1 I am currently chairing the..alternative ticket to the regular Democratic ticket. 1888 4 Dec. 5/6 Stocks here amount to 60,000 barrels regular pork... Bacon a dull market, and closes 15 points lower. 1934 20 612 She had run out of the decaffeinized coffee and so had used regular coffee for three days. 1969 24 Sept. 9/3 (advt.) Empress pure peanut butter. Homogenized, regular or chunk style. 1978 18 July 76/3 Lite also has less alcohol than regular beer. 1984 D. DeLillo (1985) i. xi. 53 Either I chew regular gum or I chew sugarless gum. 1990 6 Aug. (Insert) 6/1 (advt.) There is no standardized interpretation—‘regular’, ‘lite’, and ‘reduced calorie’ foods may all have the same amount of fat. 2004 2 June 55/1 Switch from regular milk to the organic variety. the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > condition of being mean or average > [adjective] > average 1890 27 Sept. We can fit all shapes and sizes. Our large stock contains regular, stout and long sizes. 1937 10 May (verso front cover) (advt.) More anti-knock fluid (containing lead tetraethyl) at pumps marked ‘Ethyl’ than you get in the best regular-grade gasoline. 1977 11 June 14/7 If a Big Mac is too big for you then you might settle for a regular hamburger. 1993 Mar. 28/1 Many manufacturers also do blue stone-washed jeans in other fits, including the wider-cut ‘comfort fit’. But not all use the terms ‘regular’ and ‘comfort’ fit. 2007 (Nexis) 16 June 5 The tampons are made in Europe... There are three sizes—mini, regular and super—based on absorbency. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [noun] > good person > male 1912 21 Dec. 6/5 I'm a regular guy, willing to play ball for a living if I can find a good, puncture-proof contract. 1918 W. Rogers in S. K. Gragert & M. J. Johansson (2005) IV. 115 Now I just want to say to you people who didn't know him, he was a regular guy, and I was mighty hurt to hear of his death. 1936 C. S. Lewis iv. 173 Chaucer..was not a ‘regular fellow’, un vrai businessman, or a rotarian. He was a scholar, a courtier, and a poet. 1950 H. Patterson & E. Conrad v. 30 He went around trying to be a regular guy, talking about baseball, like he was a sport. 1980 H. Cohen vi. 103 You do not come on like a grand inquisitor but rather as a humble human being..a regular Joe or Sally, complete with ‘pimples’. 1994 Oct. 35/2 If you're a film geek you're like ‘oh yeah, it's kind of like that’, but if you're just a regular person you don't need that. 2006 6 Nov. 61/2 Greene comes across as both reserved and sincere, a canny question-asker and embarrassment-revealer—a regular guy. the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > secondary planet, satellite > [adjective] > regular 1948 D. ter Haar in 25 No. 3. 63 This group has orbits which are all approximately in the equatorial plane of the primary and whose eccentricities are small. We shall call these satellites the ‘regular’ satellites. 1960 70 35 Regular satellites, eighteen in number, travelling in almost circular orbits in the plane of the equator of the parent planet. 2006 (U.K. ed.) Aug. 24/2 Jupiter's outermost regular satellite, Callisto, orbits 1.9 million kilometers from the planet. 1965 4 July d6/5 Hynson had the longest cumulative clocking..in regular-foot, or left-foot forward, competition. 1973 W. D. Nelson 219 Backhand turn, a left turn for a regular foot, a right turn for a goofy foot. 1994 Dec. 34/1 I don't like riding with regular riders because they destroy all the goofy hits. 1995 21 Oct. (Weekend Suppl.) 67/1 You'll be asked if your stance is regular..or goofy. 1998 K. Ryan v. 74 If you buy a board with a symmetrical designed sidecut, you can adjust your bindings to a regular or goofy stance. 2001 Dec. 84/1 As Kevin was a goofy-footer, he was stoked to have found a good left straight away. Taylor and Evan were regular-foots however. society > armed hostility > armed forces > [adjective] > regular 1653 E. Chamberlayne tr. (new ed.) 94 He found no other resistance but Don Antonio, one of the forementioned pretenders in the head of a popular tumult, rather then a regular Army. 1688 Bp. G. Burnet 8 The Ambassadors were persuaded, that the Waldenses, having neither a Commander nor regular Troops, could not sustain a War against the King of France. 1706 N. Luttrell Diary in (1857) VI. 44 Squadrons of his regular troops and militia. 1745 Mrs. Cibber Let. in (1835) I. 39 I should be very glad to command a body of regular troops, but I have no ambition to head the Drury-lane militia. 1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler I. 248 His majesty's regular forces at present consist of about twenty two thousand men. 1777 R. Watson II. xv. 57 A thousand regular troops, together with two thousand of the country people. 1849 T. B. Macaulay (1890) I. iii. 145 The regular army which was kept up in England at the beginning of the year 1685. 1860 J. L. Motley I. v. 270 Antwerp,..a city in which there was not a single regular soldier. 1915 151 682/2 The regular police of the force shall be entitled to..nine hundred dollars per annum... Special police shall be entitled to..two and one-half dollars per day. 1976 20 July 4/3 The withdrawal of British regular units from Oman will not affect..the secondment of British officers and other ranks..to the Sultan's forces. 1991 Jan. 38/1 The Iliescu government was..still using thousands of ex-Securitate secret police to aid the regular police in maintaining public order. 2004 (Nexis) 23 Sept. 3 The reserves currently stand at about 15,500... The regular force has about 52,000 soldiers. the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute 1740 S. Richardson II. 209 There is no putting him out of his Byas. He is a regular Piece of Clock-work. 1790 F. Reynolds v. 54 Here it is!—read it!—the very first production of the age! a regular climax of poetic beauty! 1833 R. H. Froude in (1891) I. 438 Perceval is..a regular thoroughgoing Apostolical. 1846 A. H. Clough Let. 26 Sept. in (1869) I. 108 On Wednesday we had a regular flood, and it has been raining more or less ever since. 1885 J. Payn I. 70 It was in this very fireplace I made a regular bonfire of them. 1901 ‘S. Grand’ xlvi. 436 A cad if you like; but then such a royal cad, a regular eighteen-carat cad without alloy. 1956 ‘M. Innes’ i. i. 16 My public school was a regular old Belsen. 1986 R. J. Conley 59 At the end of the day, we had a mess of squirrels, a few quails, and a rabbit, and we had us a regular feast. 2003 N. Rush xxvii. 416 They had armloads of rifles, Enfields, on board, a regular arsenal. 1799 (Royal Soc.) 89 287 Let us then try to trace some relation which may convert some or all of the roots, or some regular function of them, into equal quantities. 1893 A. R. Forsyth viii. 163 The singularities..in the vicinity of which each branch of the function is uniform. [Note] These singularities will, for the sake of brevity, be called regular. 1897 11 20 Of all regular closed curves of given perimeter, the circle is the one which incloses the greatest surface. 1908 H. Hilton ii. 8 A permutation with the same number of symbols in each cycle—such as (1 4 3) (2 5 7) (9 6 8)—is called regular. 1936 37 410 Mr is a completely regular unbounded r-manifold. 1978 Oct. 96/2 A prime is regular if and only if it does not evenly divide the numerator of any of the first p − 3 numbers in the series of fractions called the Bernoulli numbers. 1992 J. G. Oxley ix. 303 There are two natural classes of matroids for which the result may still hold: the class of binary matroids and the smaller class of regular matroids. B. n. 1. society > faith > church government > monasticism > [noun] society > faith > church government > monasticism > [noun] > monastic rule > order observing particular rule > member of particular order 1443 in A. T. Bannister (1919) 203 (MED) All thoo that be called ministers of Goddis chirch, seculiers and reguliers. a1450 (c1400) in D. M. Grisdale (1939) 53 (MED) Vr noble fader & prelat o þis place, & al þo þat ben soget to him, boþe o reglers & o seclers. a1500 (c1410) (Hunterian) (1976) i. 320 (MED) Þe lordchepe is no mor aproprychid to þe religious þan to þe seculers, for boþin seculer & reguler schuldyn ben holpyn þerby. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in iii. f. cccli Bothe professe and reguler arne obedyencer and bounden. 1570 J. Foxe (rev. ed.) II. 1350/1 Who then folowing ye rule of S. Benet, were called regulars & votaries. 1657 A. Sparrow (new ed.) 140 The Regulars and those of the strictest life did fast these weeks. 1683 vi. 91 The Cardinals, the Bishops,..all your Regulars, all your Clergy of France. 1747 Dec. 570/2 Other amphibious kinds, which are neither Regulars nor Seculars, as Jesuits, Oratorians, Doctrinarians, Lazarists. 1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ I. 391 After high mass..the regulars were marshalled in the choir. 1814 J. W. Doyle Let. 14 Dec. in W. J. Fitzpatrick (1861) II. 507 Thus you see how regularly the Regulars are at war. 1871 E. A. Freeman IV. xvii. 82 Regulars and seculars strove which should pay the highest honours to the returning hero. 1932 C. P. Curran in F. J. Sheed vi. 135 He persuaded his secular canons to join him in community life as Augustinian regulars of the Arroasian rule. 1985 M. A. R. Graves (1986) iii. 60 Bishop Fitzjames of London..rallied the bishops and regulars to the Lords, where they blocked the re-enactment of the statute of 1512. 2002 55 1079 The varied interests of the conventuals and regulars are distinguished. society > faith > aspects of faith > conformity > [noun] > person 1632 in S. R. Gardiner (1886) 172 If it had beene by a Papist against a Protestant, or by a schismatick against a regular. 1660 T. White i. 86 He shut up the Book, with these words. Look to it, you will draw all the Regulars upon your back, meaning all such of them, as found great profit by perswading the people they should procure a sudden redemption of their friends out of Purgatory. society > faith > worship > benefice > [noun] > one who possesses > properly appointed 1645 J. Howell iii. vii. 59 Bishop Andrews, and Sir Henry Martin..declar'd positively that he was not to fall from his dignitie or function, but should still remain a regular. the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun] > making or regulating > one who makes or regulates 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil i. Prol. 346 Venerable Chaucer,..Hevinlie trumpat, horleige and reguleir. a1538 A. Abell Roit or Quheill of Tyme f. 82v, in (at cited word) He maid a collegion of the obseruance of regulair of channonis in a buke quhilk..is callit the ordur buke. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > noun > [noun] > other specific types of noun a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub iii. vii. 74 in (1640) III I heare, there's comfort in thy words yet, Chanon. Ile trust thy regulars, and say no more. View more context for this quotation 1653 J. Webster ix. 100 The whole difficulty is in the Noun and the Verb, of both which some are regulars, and some are irregulars. 1710 J. Urmston 30 The Preterimperfect Tense, and the Participle of the Preterperfect Tense are commonly the same in Engish and end in ed..; and are here called Regulars. 1751 J. Fauchon 172 We have upwards of 3000 Verbs in French, divided into ten Sorts, viz...regulars [etc.]. 1796 P. W. Fogg xxvii. 115 The paucity of the two latter classes..determined him to reckon only one class of regulars. 1835 J. P. Cobbett viii. 39 Amare, Docere, Legere, and Audire, all regular verbs, and here given as models by which to conjugate other regulars. 1881 21 What are usually called the irregular verbs in Romance, to which Diez has given the name of strong, while the regulars he terms weak. 1954 38 264/2 I am not sure that it is wise to introduce so many irregular verbs until the regulars have been studied. 2002 78 684 Whatever differences there may be between regulars and irregulars emerge as a result of the way that speakers store and generalize over all of the words of their language—regular and irregular—using a single system. the world > health and disease > healing > healer > general practitioner > [noun] 1716 M. Davies II. To Rdr. p. xi Generally both the Quacks and Regulars agree well enough as to the never-adone Physicking and Taking of Fees. 1764 S. Foote i. 5 Lint... An encourager of quacks, Sir Jacob. Sir Jac. Regulars, Lint, regulars. 1795 ‘P. Pindar’ 196 Nor Quack nor Regular the mark will miss. 1856 W. M. Thackeray 2 Nov. (1946) III. 628 At last in a fright she sends the Homœopathists to the rightabout gets rapidly well under the Regulars. 1894 ‘M. Twain’ 28 Jan. (1917) II. 606 When the mind-curist is done with you, you have to call in a ‘regular’. 1934 20 510 The warfare between the ‘regulars’ and the ‘quacks’ of the medical profession was long and bitter, but who was which was often hard to determine. 1978 J. C. Mohr ii. 33 The regulars organized and maintained state and local medical societies, published learned journals, and tried to encourage high educational standards. 2001 S. Lock et al. 208/2 With regulars too distant or too expensive, common people had to resort to self-medication and to quacks. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > permanent or regular 1747 4 Undisciplin'd Troops, mix'd with Regulars, have in many Instances behav'd as well as Regulars. 1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler I. 248 On these occasions, they [sc. the militia] receive the same pay as the regulars. 1796 J. G. Stedman I. iv. 85 Both the regulars and the rangers..behaved with unprecedented intrepidity. 1841 C. Dickens lxiii. 301 The regulars and militia..began to pour in by all the roads. 1870 20 Aug. 993/1 If he actually declared war with only his regulars in the field, all is explained. 1917 W. Owen 23 Nov. (1967) 509 The C.O. is a terrible old ‘Regular’. 1945 14 Dec. 5 Of these according to the WD, 49.82 percent are former Regulars. 1990 Apr. 62/3 He said he had chosen us to move farther north; this would mean no more base camp and..we would be facing..North Vietnamese Army..regulars. 2009 (Nexis) 1 Jan. 6 Lee had been in the Territorial Army for around 20 years, as he joined while looking to join the regulars. the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > an allotted share, portion, or part > [noun] > of booty, spoils, or profits 1811 Regulars, share of the booty. The coves cracked the swell's crib, fenced the swag, and each cracksman napped his regular. 1839 16 Sept. 841 Loader was close by, and said she would go regulars—she meant she would share it together. 1846 27 Feb. 5/2 Burton..offered to let Duffill go regulars in any job he could put the gang up to. 1865 in (1986) 15 xv. 21 When the ‘regulars’ were put around, we parted from Folkstone, and proceeded on our way to our home. 1882 10/1 A cross-cove, who had his regulars for stalling, cried ‘Cop bung’, as a pig was marking. 1937 E. Partridge 693/2 Regulars, a division of booty. the world > time > reckoning of time > [noun] > numbers used in calculations 1833 H. Nicolas 25 There are two kinds of Regulars, Solar and Lunar. 1840 XVII. 451/1 The annual regular, or the regular cited in charters (as in our previous quotation, where it is called the paschal regular), is..a third regular belonging to the whole year. 1895 10 524 The lunar regular of the Kalends of April. 1897 F. Madan IV. p. xii They began in 1036 and 1549. In both of these years the ‘paschal regular’ was 1. 1900 F. A. Arbuthnot 7 At the end of a revolution of 532 years, the two cycles of the moon, the regulars,..the epacts with the new moons, recommence as they were 532 years before. 1939 C. W. Jones 75 For an explanation of the lunar and ferial regulars..see DTR Chs. XX, XXI, where they are given. 1973 9 11 Lines 1–2 are a list of solar regulars, sometimes called ferial regulars. 1995 86 569 A chart of the paschal cycle and the paschal regulars is included with the Compotus of Constabularius. 1998 89 57 Jones's suggestion that Bede invented the lunar regulars himself seems unlikely. 2005 L. Holford-Strevens vii. 127 Dionysius' lunar regulars presuppose a year beginning in September as at Byzantium. 8. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > one who does something habitually 1842 Mar. 335/2 Tramps and cadgers were abundant in those parts, and if I had been suspected not to be a ‘regular’ in the trade, I should have suffered two inconveniences. 1898 27 Oct. 8/4 You see I has my regulars; mine aint no chance trade. 1902 E. Banks xvii. 186 The ‘regulars’ are engaged on salary, and receive their weekly salaries every Saturday night. 1949 S. Gibbons xx. 240 Mr. Waite was not a Regular at The Peal of Bells. 1970 28 Sept. 2/2 Local coal merchants will limit supplies to ‘regulars only’. 1993 S. Reaves vi. 93 I'm told Vance Oyler used to drink here quite a bit... People he used to work with told me he was a regular. 2007 (Midwest ed.) 23 Nov. iv. 6/2 Cabrera is a significant upgrade over Uribe, who was as bad as any regular in the big leagues. 1862 Nov. 595/1 Mr Mildrington..selected a straight chair—one of the regulars of the drawing-room—and sat down bluntly. 1870 C. Dickens iii. 13 [These matters] constitute no item in Miss Twinkleton's half-yearly accounts. They are neither of Miss Twinkleton's inclusive regulars, nor of her extras. 1872 ‘M. Twain’ xliii. 299 I struck up friendships with the reporters of the other journals, and we swapped ‘regulars’ with each other and thus economized work. ‘Regulars’ are permanent sources of news, like courts, bullion returns, ‘clean-ups’ at the quartz mills, and inquests. 1944 A. H. Chisholm xxviii. 233 There are, perhaps, some two hundred and twenty ‘regulars’ on the list of British birds. 1950 31 July Steaks, Mexican dishes..and all types of sandwiches are menu regulars that can be prepared for you as you like them. a1980 A. Powell III. iv. 77 Among other regulars in the critical columns were Elizabeth Bowen's rather staid notices of plays. 2006 26 Mar. 23/1 I have a charcoal grill... I cook all the regulars on it: steak, hamburgers, chicken, corn and hotdogs. 1907 8 Aug. A lot of about 150 Hart, Schaffner & Marx Suits..in Regulars, Stouts, Slims, Single and Double Breast. 1952 27 266 With regard to sizes of suits there are three basic divisions: regulars—for men of average height and weight; shorts..and longs. 1968 F. Exley v. 203 While the attendant was feeding my car two dollars' worth of Regular, I nonchalantly inquired whether that wasn't the house of the Edmund Wilson. 1970 R. Thorp & R. Blake 157/1 Three TVs, one doesn't work, one's color, and one is just a regular. 2000 D. Ginsberg xi. 263 The busboys were responsible for brewing the coffee and keeping equal supplies of both regular and decaf available. C. adv. Now nonstandard. the world > time > frequency > [adverb] > periodically the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adverb] > methodically the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > [adverb] > in orderly or consistent manner the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adverb] > according to rule or standard 1704 T. Brown Looking-glass for Married People in tr. L. de Gaya (ed. 3) iii. 157 The Servants would never be rightly order'd, nor Affairs go regular, unless we had a Divine in the House to lay it home to their Consciences. 1710 S. Palmer 82 'Tis impossible to judge well and act regular, when the mind is ruffl'd. 1742 J. Hurlock iii. 121 He now voided his Urine freely, went regular to Stool, and appeared more active. 1824 L. L. Cameron (new ed.) iii. 20 Why, my lad, don't you bring home tickets every day when you go regular? 1856 Nov. 483/2 All tip-top republicans, who touched the pen, and drew our pay regular at the first of every month. 1912 St. J. G. Ervine Magnanimous Lover in B. H. Clark (1921) 439 Does Maggie go to church regular? 1988 L. Ellmann 37 He gives us money regular. 2006 10 July 52/2 You know, where you get shot in the stomach and you can't shit regular. the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly 1846 G. W. Lovell iv. ii. 4 Why you know, sir, she was regular vicious yesterday. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 200/2 The musical man..he dropped down dead in the street one day as he was crying; he was regular worn out. 1885 ‘F. Anstey’ 142 Oh, I'm regular jolly, I am! 1904 33 106/1 She was regular heart-broke and upset, I can tell you. 1931 N. Hancock in 181 Regular cut up, they was, from all accounts. 2007 L. Kimport xii. 132 She was regular odd, Miss Clara. Different, Annie was, as I might of told you before, I believe. Compounds1748 (Royal Soc.) 45 161 This forms a regular-headed handsome Tree, producing beautiful fragrant Flowers succeeded by its wholsome and nutritious Fruit. 1770 (Royal Soc.) 59 145 I examined this scum..and could discover it to be full of regular-shaped salts. 1841 W. Savage 213 He can take ink more uniformly in small quantities, by first taking ink with a pair of regular sized balls. 1882 23 Sept. 273/2 The blue Ash of Michigan..is a bold, regular-growing tree. 1905 30 Sept. 16/3 The wedding of her son, the present duke, was quite one of the social events of the past Paris season. The Princess has a handsome, regular-featured face, and looks the clever woman she is said to be. 1978 30 Mar. c8/1 Along with the regular-sized deck chairs,..there's..a transat..—a chair with an attached foot rest. 1995 (Royal Hort. Soc.) Nov. 688 (caption) A harvest of miniature vegetables..and their regular-sized counterparts..including..leek ‘King Richard’ pulled at regular and miniature size. C2. society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > Baptists > sects and groups > [noun] > particular ?1792 J. Asplund 49 Received the confession of faith partially, on the account of union with the regular Baptists. 1835 J. Martin 76 The precise distinction between the regular Baptist and the Reformers, called the disciples of Christ, not being in all cases drawn. 1896 10 184 The members were originally all ‘Regular Baptists’, holding the strict Calvinistic, or ‘anti-means’, doctrine of salvation. 1917 G. E. Horr in iii. 174 The happy union of the Free Will and the regular Baptists on October 5, 1911, did much to solve the vexed communion question for the Northern Baptist churches. 2005 (Nexis) 25 June d1 The question of ordaining women..has not been an issue with the Regular Baptists. 1718 J. Quincy xv. 241/1 When I mention Modern Practice, that only is meant which is by regular bred Physicians. 1794 18 110 Giving them my own opinion, and leaving every regular-bred gentleman to decide upon it, I certainly think, that ten yards is the nearest distance the parties should be suffered to fight at. 1832 May 297 It's better to have cattle properly tended and looked after at once by a regular-bred farrier, than to have it bungled by any of them young 'ands. 1921 Apr. 177 Stirner was a regular bred printer. 1708 E. Hatton I. 95/2 Prescot street, a spacious and regular Built Str. 1817 J. K. Paulding I. 105 I can do this without forfeiting my character as a ‘regular built’ traveller, whose duty it is to tell all he sees, and more besides. 1888 May 45/2 The ‘Savannah’ was a regular-built full-rigged sailing ship. 1891 Oct. 802/1 One of them high-toned Boston regular built ladies. 2002 (Nexis) 28 Jan. b10 We've also..put timber beams into regular-built homes. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > procedure of parliament or national assembly > [noun] > period between opening and prorogation 1811 D. D. Tompkins in 7 ii. 105/1 Ten years will have expired, at the next regular session of the legislature, since the laws of the state have been revised. 1894 9 352 The first regular session of the fifty-third Congress began December 4, just a month after the end of the extraordinary session. 1922 J. R. Long 46 The first regular session of Congress does not begin until more than a year after its members were elected. 2002 (Nexis) 24 July 12 No one should say that a regular session of the Texas Legislature always takes a calm and deliberative approach. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  adj.n.adv.a1387 |
