1)

Defined boundaries and/or limits that are established and adhered to prior to an event occurring.

2)

Elements of truth that are generally adhered to, but can, in certain specialized cases, be departed from, bent, and/or broken.

Inflected Form(s):

Rules (plural)

Comments:

In analytical terms, rules differ from principles in that they are not proven to be true in all circumstances.

Rules which are generally adhered to but, are departed from in a number instances, are commonly referred to as a General Rule. This is to distinguish it from rules that are almost always true, except in very limited circumstances.

Example(s):

The rule "always seek the upper hand" means that one should always try to keep their hands physically above of the opponent's. But, if the opponent's hands are raised high, directly above their head, it is obvious that this rule, in this instance, can be disregarded.

Related Definition(s):

Principle