A set of criteria or guidelines for evaluation, or a category or classification system.
From Latin rubrīca meaning 'red earth' or 'red ochre', originally referring to red ink used for headings in manuscripts. Medieval scribes used red ink to mark important sections, giving us the modern meaning of guidelines or criteria.
The connection between red ink and evaluation criteria persists today in education, where rubrics help standardize grading - a direct descendant of medieval monks' practice of highlighting important text in vermillion.
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