Definitions for: Reign


[n] royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
[n] the period during which a monarch is sovereign; "during the reign of Henry VIII"
[n] a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful; "he was helpless under the reign of his egotism"
[v] have sovereign power; "Henry VIII reigned for a long time"
[v] be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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 (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.

Synonyms: dominate, predominate, prevail, rule, sovereignty

See Also: dominion, govern, historic period, outbalance, outweigh, overarch, overbalance, override, period, period of time, preponderate, redound, reign of terror, rule, rule, scepter, sceptre, time period

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