reign
[reyn]
- the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.
- royal rule or authority; sovereignty.
- dominating power or influence: the reign of law.
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- 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.
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Origin of reign
1225–75; (noun) Middle English reine, regne < Old French reigne < Latin rēgnum realm, reign, derivative of rēg- (stem of rēx) king; (v.) Middle English reinen, regnen < Old French reignier < Latin rēgnāre, derivative of rēgnum
Synonyms
See more synonyms for reign on Thesaurus.com2. dominion, suzerainty. 4. rule, govern, prevail.
Antonyms
4. obey.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for reign
Contemporary Examples
“I think Sex Ed is equally, if not more, important than mathematics or English,” says Reign.
However it is that she got there, we know the reign of the tyrants at Grady Memorial is coming to a close.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Slabtown’: The Real Source of Terror Isn’t Walkers, It’s RapeMelissa Leon
November 3, 2014
Umberto, who went by Albert, oversaw mob killings during his reign in the mid-1900s.
But one thing is becoming clearer: No matter who is nominally in charge, chaos will reign.
Thompson beat out Charles Hynes for Brooklyn DA, ending a reign that last more than 23 years.
Historical Examples
Yet the period of Victoria's reign will often be spoken of in history as the Gladstonian Era.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
From the first to the last moment of her reign, she combined the courtesan with the assassin.
RidgewayScian Dubh
O, when will the reign of perfect charity, that "thinketh no evil," commence!
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
She used to reign over what they called the "Island of Mere."
It Happened in EgyptC. N. Williamson
Unfortunate was the commencement of my reign—unfortunate its end.
Leila, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
reign
- 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
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- 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
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Word Origin
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
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 reign
n.
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.
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper