ru·bric

[roo-brik]
noun
1.
a title, heading, direction, or the like, in a manuscript, book, statute, etc., written or printed in red or otherwise distinguished from the rest of the text.
2.
a direction for the conduct of divine service or the administration of the sacraments, inserted in liturgical books.
3.
any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol.
4.
an explanatory comment; gloss.
5.
a class or category
6.
Archaic. red ocher.
adjective
7.
written, inscribed in, or marked with or as with red; rubrical.
8.
Archaic. red; ruddy.
00:10
Rubric is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

Origin:
1325–75; < Latin rūbrīca red ocher (derivative of ruber red); replacing Middle English rubriche, rubrike (noun) < Old French

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World English Dictionary
rubric (ˈruːbrɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a title, heading, or initial letter in a book, manuscript, or section of a legal code, esp one printed or painted in red ink or in some similarly distinguishing manner
2.  a set of rules of conduct or procedure
3.  a set of directions for the conduct of Christian church services, often printed in red in a prayer book or missal
4.  instructions to a candidate at the head of the examination paper
5.  an obsolete name for red ochre
 
adj
6.  written, printed, or marked in red
 
[C15 rubrike red ochre, red lettering, from Latin rubrīca (terra) red (earth), ruddle, from ruber red]
 
'rubrical
 
adj
 
'rubrically
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rubric
late 14c., "directions in religious services" (often in red writing), from O.Fr. rubrique, from L. rubrica "red ochre, red coloring matter," from ruber, from PIE base *rudhro- (see red).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Grading essays much faster by using a well-crafted rubric and fewer comments.
Each section of the rubric had a unsatisfactory to excellent description of
  behavior.
Yet the rubric also gives him the opportunity to speculate about a rich variety
  of subjects.
Definitely agree to the detailed grading rubric for speeches.
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