Etymology From Middle English reguler, from Anglo-Norman reguler, Middle French reguler, regulier, and their source, Latin rēgulāris (“continuing rules for guidance”), from rēgula (“rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“move in a straight line”).
Christianity Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular).
regular clergy, in distinction from the secular clergy
A quarter of a million strong in 1680, the clergy was only half as large in 1789. The unpopular regular clergy were the worst affected.2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 201:
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Having a constant pattern; showing evenness of form or appearance.
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Geometry, Mathematics, SciencesOf a polygon Both equilateral and equiangular; having all sides of the same length, and all (corresponding) angles of the same size
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Geometry, Mathematics, SciencesOf a polyhedron Whose faces are all congruent regular polygons, equally inclined to each other.
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Demonstrating a consistent set of rules; showing order, evenness of operation or occurrence.
April may be the cruellest month, but I am planning to render it civilised and to take my antibiotics in a regular manner.2011 April 12, A[lison] L[ouise] Kennedy, The Guardian:
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Astronomy, Natural sciences Of a moon or other satellite: following a relatively close and prograde orbit with little inclination or eccentricity.
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Archaic Well-behaved, orderly; restrained (of a lifestyle etc.).
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Happening at constant (especially short) intervals.
He made regular visits to go see his mother.
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Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, SciencesOf a verb Following a set or common pattern; according to the general rules of a given language.
"Walked" is the past tense of the regular verb "to walk".
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US Having the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard.
“I don’t see how you can write and act such splendid things, Jo. You’re a regular Shakespeare!” exclaimed Beth, who firmly believed that her sisters were gifted with wonderful genius in all things.1868-69, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 21, in Little Women, part 1:
Having bowel movements or menstrual periods at constant intervals in the expected way.
Maintaining a high-fibre diet keeps you regular.
Gulls cawed and wheeled overhead, dropping splatty white cluster bombs on rooftops and pavements. Goodness knows what those gulls eat, but it certainly keeps them regular.2015, Bill Bryson, The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island, page 206:
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Colloquial Exemplary; excellent example of; utter, downright.
a regular genius; a regular John Bull
Don't worry, boy. We're gonna set you straight. By tomorrow morning, you'll be a regular Burt Reynolds.1997 February 16, Ron Hauge, Homer's Phobia (The Simpsons), season 8, episode 15, spoken by Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta):
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Biology, Botany, Natural sciences, Zoology Having all the parts of the same kind alike in size and shape.
Etymology From Middle English reguler, from Anglo-Norman reguler, Middle French reguler, regulier, and their source, Latin rēgulāris (“continuing rules for guidance”), from rēgula (“rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“move in a straight line”).
Though no minister would visit the Skerburnfoot, or, if he went, departed quicker than he came, the girl Ailie attended regular at the catechising at the mains of Sker.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
"There's only twenty men staying in the house regular," said Ahearne, showing him around[.]1946, William Hatfield, Buffalo Jim, Oxford: Geoffrey Cumberlege, page 47:
2 more examples
"Drain her every thousand, regular. Don't do it myself, o' course; just drop her in at the lubritorium."1961, Colin Thiele, The Sun on the Stubble, Melbourne: Rigby Limited, page 113:
"All we've got to do is stick 'em in the bedroom and feed 'em regular."1988, Mary Steele, Mallyroot's Pub at Misery Ponds, Ringwood: Puffin Books, page 37:
regular
noun
Etymology From Middle English reguler, from Anglo-Norman reguler, Middle French reguler, regulier, and their source, Latin rēgulāris (“continuing rules for guidance”), from rēgula (“rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“move in a straight line”).
A member of the British Army (as opposed to a member of the Territorial Army or Reserve).
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A frequent, routine visitor to an establishment.
Bartenders usually know their regulars by name.
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A member of the armed forces or police force.
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Singapore Synonym of regular serviceman; a member of the Singapore Armed Forces, Police Force or Civil Defence Force who has signed on, i.e., chosen to work full-time beyond their required length of national service.
Boss, this is the situation. They were regulars in the army. They’ve left the army and are taxi drivers now. He was a commando and he was a state boxer. They don’t earn much and there’s no end.2004, Ong Lay Jinn, 00:24:49 from the start, in Perth: The Geylang Massacre:
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A frequent customer, client or business partner.
This gentleman was one of the architect's regulars.
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Broadcasting, Media, Television A character who appears in every episode of a TV series; a member of the regular cast.
When it comes to regulars, some shows feature ensemble casts in which all the characters are more or less equal and the focus of the show shifts from one member of the ensemble to another from episode to episode.2013, Ray Morton, A Quick Guide to Television Writing, Bloomsbury, →ISBN:
You separate the marbles by color until you have four groups, but then you notice that some of the marbles are regulars, some are shooters, and some are peewees.2011, Jamie MacLennan, ZhaoHui Tang, Bogdan Crivat, Data Mining with Microsoft SQL Server 2008:
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A member of a religious order who has taken the three ordinary vows.
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A number for each year, giving, added to the concurrents, the number of the day of the week on which the Paschal full moon falls.
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A fixed number for each month serving to ascertain the day of the week, or the age of the moon, on the first day of any month.