regency
[ree-juh n-see]
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of regency
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for regency
Contemporary Examples
Earlier this week, Regency Centers, a shopping center developer, sold $250 million in so-called green bonds.
It began, for them all, with the urge to seek some form of liberty and escape the stultifying conventions of Regency England.
Scher set up a face-to-face meeting with John Edwards on September 18 at the Regency Hotel in New York City.
Over drinks at the Regency that afternoon it was mutually decided that Miss Hunter would no longer travel with the candidate.
The most likely scenario is a collective leadership that will rule in the name of the Kim family—in effect, a regency.
Historical Examples
A regency was proposed; and six physicians were called in to act in consultation.
Beaux and Belles of EnglandMary Robinson
The power of the council of the regency and its composition fell.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, CompleteDuc 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, CompleteDuc de Saint-Simon
On leaving the Regency, he came back to Ryder Street and dressed for dinner.
The Education of Eric LaneStephen McKenna
They exercise daily, and have petitioned to be authorised by their Regency.
regency
- 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
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Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regere to rule
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)
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- 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
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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
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper