criterion; standard; a person or thing that is regarded as a model or a guiding principle

to respect or hold up something as a model, standard, or law

(literary) unstable or uneasy; often describes a precarious situation or a restless, anxious state of mind

(literary) shaky; unsteady; describing a state of being unstable or in turmoil

(historical) provincial judge in imperial China

judicial commissioner in imperial China responsible for the administration of justice at the provincial level