regency

[ree-juh n-see]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR regency ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural re·gen·cies.

the office, jurisdiction, or control of a regent or body of regents exercising the ruling power during the minority, absence, or disability of a sovereign.

a body of regents.

a government consisting of regents.

a territory under the control of a regent or regents.

the term of office of a regent.

(initial capital letter) British History. the period (1811–20) during which George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, was regent.

(initial capital letter) French History. the period of the minority of Louis XV.

the office or function of a regent or ruler.

adjective

of or relating to a regency.

History/Historical. of or relating to the Regencies in England or France.

(often initial capital letter) of or relating to the style of architecture, furnishings, and decoration of the British Regency, somewhat similar to the French Directoire and Empire styles and characterized by close imitation of ancient Greek forms as well as by less frequent and looser adaptations of ancient Roman, Gothic, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian forms.

Origin of regency

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word rēgentia. See regent, -ency

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for regency

authority, dominion, power, rule, dominance

Examples from the Web for regency

Contemporary Examples of regency

Earlier this week, Regency Centers, a shopping center developer, sold $250 million in so-called green bonds.
The Bond Market Goes Green
The Daily Beast
May 27, 2014
It began, for them all, with the urge to seek some form of liberty and escape the stultifying conventions of Regency England.
The Man Who Invented Vampires and the Creepiest Literary Gathering Ever
Emma Garman
November 24, 2013
Scher set up a face-to-face meeting with John Edwards on September 18 at the Regency Hotel in New York City.
The Man Who Confronted Edwards About His Dangerous Infidelity Game
Diane Dimond
May 5, 2012
Over drinks at the Regency that afternoon it was mutually decided that Miss Hunter would no longer travel with the candidate.
The Man Who Confronted Edwards About His Dangerous Infidelity Game
Diane Dimond
May 5, 2012
The most likely scenario is a collective leadership that will rule in the name of the Kim family—in effect, a regency.
Report: Kim Jong-un Halts Military Exercises
The Daily Beast
December 21, 2011

Historical Examples of regency

A regency was proposed; and six physicians were called in to act in consultation.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson
The power of the council of the regency and its composition fell.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
I speak here only of his conduct since the establishment of the regency.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
On leaving the Regency, he came back to Ryder Street and dressed for dinner.
The Education of Eric Lane
Stephen McKenna
They exercise daily, and have petitioned to be authorised by their Regency.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. IX
Various

British Dictionary definitions for regency

regency

noun plural -cies

government by a regent or a body of regents

the office of a regent or body of regents

a territory under the jurisdiction of a regent or body of regents

Word Origin for regency

C15: from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regere to rule

Regency

noun the Regency

(in the United Kingdom) the period (1811–20) during which the Prince of Wales (later George IV) acted as regent during his father's periods of insanity

(in France) the period of the regency of Philip, Duke of Orleans, during the minority of Louis XV (1715–23)

adjective

characteristic of or relating to the Regency periods in France or the United Kingdom or to the styles of architecture, furniture, art, literature, etc, produced in them

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for regency

early 15c., "government by regents," from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regens (see regent). Notable instances were: France 1715-1723 (under Philip, Duke of Orleans), Britain 1811-1820 (under George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent), "in each case with suggestion of debauchery" [Weekley]. In reference to the style of that time, attested from 1880 (there is an unexplained use in Jane Austen from 1793). Cf. French equivalent Régence, attested in English from 1919. U.S. Albany Regency refers to dominant political faction in New York state c.1820-1850.