the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.
royal rule or authority; sovereignty.
dominating power or influence: the reign of law.
verb (used without object)
to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority.
to hold the position and name of sovereign without exercising the ruling power.
to have control, rule, or influence of any kind.
to predominate; be prevalent.
Origin of reign
1225–75; (noun) Middle Englishreine, regne < Old Frenchreigne < Latinrēgnum realm, reign, derivative of rēg- (stem of rēx) king; (v.) Middle Englishreinen, regnen < Old Frenchreignier < Latinrēgnāre, derivative of rēgnum
Related formsin·ter·reign, verb (used without object)non·reign·ing, adjectiveout·reign, verb (used with object)un·reign·ing, adjectiveCan be confusedrainreignrein
the period during which a monarch is the official ruler of a country
a period during which a person or thing is dominant, influential, or powerfulthe reign of violence is over
verb(intr)
to exercise the power and authority of a sovereign
to be accorded the rank and title of a sovereign without having ruling authority, as in a constitutional monarchy
to predominate; prevaila land where darkness reigns
(usually present participle)to be the most recent winner of a competition, contest, etcthe reigning heavyweight champion
Word Origin for reign
C13: from Old French reigne, from Latin rēgnum kingdom, from rēx king
usage
Reign is sometimes wrongly written for rein in certain phrases: he gave full rein (not reign) to his feelings; it will be necessary to rein in (not reign in) public spending
early 13c., "kingdom," from Old French reigne "kingdom, land, country" (Modern French règne), from Latin regnum "kingship, dominion, rule, realm," related to regere (see regal). Meaning "period of rule" first recorded mid-14c.
v.
"to hold or exercise sovereign power," late 13c., from Old French regner "rule, reign" (12c.), from Latin regnare "have royal power, be king, rule, reign," from regnum (see reign (n.)). Related: Reigned; reigning; regnal.
