reign
[ reyn ]
/ reɪn /
noun
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)
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 FOR reign
OTHER WORDS FROM reign
in·ter·reign, verb (used without object) non·reign·ing, adjective out·reign, verb (used with object) un·reign·ing, adjectiveWords nearby reign
reidsville,
reif,
reifenstein's syndrome,
reify,
reigate,
reign,
reign of terror,
reignite,
reik,
reiki,
reimburse
Example sentences from the Web for reign
British Dictionary definitions for reign
reign
/ (reɪn) /
noun
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 powerful
the 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; prevail
a land where darkness reigns
(usually present participle)
to be the most recent winner of a competition, contest, etc
the reigning heavyweight champion
Word Origin for reign
C13: from Old French
reigne, from Latin
rēgnum kingdom, from
rēx king
usage for reign
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