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reign - 5 dictionary results

reign

  [reyn]
Use reign in a Sentence
–noun
1. the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.
2. royal rule or authority; sovereignty.
3. dominating power or influence: the reign of law.
–verb (used without object)
4. to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority.
5. to hold the position and name of sovereign without exercising the ruling power.
6. to have control, rule, or influence of any kind.
7. to predominate; be prevalent.
Origin:
1225–75; (n.) ME reine, regne < OF reigne < L rēgnum realm, reign, deriv. of rēg- (s. of rēx) king; (v.) ME reinen, regnen < OF reignier < L rēgnāre, deriv. of rēgnum

Synonyms:
2. dominion, suzerainty. 4. rule, govern, prevail.

Antonyms:
4. obey.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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reign   (rān)   
n.  
  1. Exercise of sovereign power, as by a monarch.
  2. The period during which a monarch rules.
  3. Dominance or widespread influence: the reign of reason.
intr.v.   reigned, reign·ing, reigns
  1. To exercise sovereign power.
  2. To hold the title of monarch, but with limited authority.
  3. To be predominant or prevalent: Panic reigned as the fire spread.

[Middle English reigne, from Old French, from Latin rēgnum, from rēx, rēg-, king; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Reign

Reign\ (r[=a]n), n. [OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F. r[`e]gne, fr. L. regnum, fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.]

1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.

He who like a father held his reign. --Pope.

Saturn's sons received the threefold reign Of heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath. --Prior.

2. The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion. [Obs.] --Spenser.

[God] him bereft the regne that he had. --Chaucer.

3. The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.

Reign

Reign\ (r?n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (r?nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reigning.] [OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F. r['e]gner, fr. L. regnare, fr. regnum. See Reign, n.]

1. To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule. --Chaucer.

We will not have this man to reign over us. --Luke xix. 14.

Shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom? --Shak.

2. Hence, to be predominant; to prevail. "Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer." --Bacon.

3. To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. --Rom. vi. 12.

Syn: To rule; govern; direct; control; prevail.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : reign
Spanish: reinado,
German: die Regierungszeit,
Japanese: 統治
More Translations »

reign  (n.)
c.1225, "kingdom," from O.Fr. reigne, from L. regnum "kingship, dominion, rule, realm," related to regere (see regal). Meaning "period of rule" first recorded c.1330. The verb, meaning "to hold or exercise sovereign power," is attested from c.1280, from O.Fr. regner, from L. regnare, from regnum.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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