Category:Reign

Reign (rn), n. Etym: [oe. regne, of. reigne, regne, f. règne, 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 (rn), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (rnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reigning.] Etym: [oe. regnen, reinen, of. regner, f. régner, 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.