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

ANTONYMS FOR reign

4 obey.

OTHER WORDS FROM reign

in·ter·reign, verb (used without object) non·reign·ing, adjective out·reign, verb (used with object) un·reign·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reign

rain reign rein

Example sentences from the Web for reigned

British Dictionary definitions for reigned

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