Meaning of lesbian rule | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A flexible leaden mason's rule that can be bent around the curves of a molding, and thus used to measure or reproduce irregular curves.
   rare
2. Alternative letter-case form of Lesbian rule.
   alt-of, especially, rare
3. A flexible principle, one which may be bent to accommodate or fit different circumstances.
   broadly

Examples

“Or, with a Lesbian rule⟳—that strip⟳ of soft lead⟳ which could be pressed into a particularly satisfying molding to record⟳ its profile—we explored buildings that interested us.”

“Instead , the good architect would use⟳ a "Lesbian" rule⟳, which "adapts itself to the shape⟳ of the stone and is not rigid."”

“He asks: “Is Scripture become⟳ a Lesbian''' rule⟳ and bowed to our fancies? But this is the very answer⟳ that a classical brother gave me […]”

“[…] that it may exercise authority as a rule⟳ for the direction of life, and for prescribing some limits to liberty, and not that it may be slavishly subservient to the wills of men, like⟳ a Lesbian rule⟳, which may be accommodated to every condition; since these are some of the properties of religion, man is not permitted to stipulate concerning it, […]”

“[…] and cemented by a thousand links of union, the law of marriage should be a Lesbian rule⟳, which shifts according to the circumstances of place⟳; and that acts which in England would be absolutely null may be binding marriages in Scotland […]”

“Lesbian rules — rules which accommodate themselves to the wishes of men, and bend⟳ to all the demands of denominational prejudice — have⟳ been quite too long employed to elucidate, or rather to misinterpret, the Scriptures.”

“[…] have⟳ Lesbian rules of interpretation - rules which he can bend⟳ to his wishes and so apply⟳ as to make⟳ the Scriptures yield⟳ the meaning he desires. But these rules are not of that kind. They are meant to be just and impartial.”

“This is certainly using a Lesbian rule⟳, to adapt Christ in such a way as to bring⟳ Him into accord with Aristotle, rather than Aristotle with Christ.”

“It has to be, shall we say⟳, you have⟳ to work⟳ with a lesbian rule⟳, I suppose⟳! You know⟳ what a lesbian rule⟳ is? It's a rule⟳ that you can bend⟳.”

“Using slides of photographs from advertising and art, the authors discuss⟳ the importance of using "lesbian rules" (a term deriving from a mason's tool that allows measuring flexibility) to understand⟳ the dimensions of sexual expression […]”

“In an attempt⟳ to build⟳ a few intertextual bridges, we use⟳ images from lesbian literature to illustrate⟳ principles we find⟳ most useful in thinking psychoanalytically about homosexuality. We call⟳ these principles lesbian rules. A lesbian rule⟳ was originally a mason's rule⟳ made of lead⟳ […] Thus, figuratively, it became, […] "a principle allowing flexibility." […] Clinical psychoanalysis uses many such lesbian rules.”

CEFR level