Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Reign
Reign
(rān)
, Noun.
1.
Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
He who like a father held his
reign
. Pope.
Saturn’s sons received the threefold
Of heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
reign
Of heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
Prior.
2.
The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
[God] him bereft the
regne
that he had. Chaucer.
3.
The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority;
as, it happened in the
. reign
of ElizabethReign
(r?n)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Reigned
(r?nd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Reigning
.] 1.
To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule.
Chaucer.
We will not have this man to
reign
over us. Luke xix. 14.
Shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign
in this kingdom? Shakespeare
2.
Hence, to be predominant; to prevail.
“Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer.” Bacon.
3.
To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.
Let not sin therefore
reign
in your mortal body. Rom. vi. 12.
Syn. – To rule; govern; direct; control; prevail.
Webster 1828 Edition
Reign
REIGN
,Verb.
I.
1.
To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to rule; to exercise government, as a king or emperor; or to hold the supreme power. George the third reigned over Great Britain more than fifty years.Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness. Is. 32.
2.
To be predominant; to prevail.Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer or autumn.
3.
To rule; to have superior or uncontrolled dominion. Romans 6.[This word is never applied to the exercise of supreme power by a legislative body or the executive administration, in the United States.]
REIGN
,Noun.
1.
Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty.He who like a father held his reign.
2.
The time during which a king, queen or emperor possesses the supreme authority. The Spanish armada was equipped to invade England in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Magna Charta was obtained in the reign of king John.3.
Kingdom; dominion.Saturn's sons received the threefold reign of heav'n, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
4.
Power; influence.5.
Prevalence.Definition 2024
Reign
reign
reign
See also: Reign
English
Alternative forms
- raygne (obsolete)
Noun
reign (plural reigns)
- The exercise of sovereign power.
- England prospered under Elizabeth I.'s reign.
- Prior
- Saturn's sons received the threefold reign / Of heaven, of ocean, and deep **** beneath.
- The period during which a monarch rules.
- The reign of Victoria was a long one.
- The territory or sphere over which a kingdom; empire; realm; dominion, etc. is ruled.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
Translations
The exercise of sovereign power
|
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The period during which a monarch rules
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Verb
reign (third-person singular simple present reigns, present participle reigning, simple past and past participle reigned)
- (transitive, intransitive) To exercise sovereign power, or to rule as a monarch
- He reigned in an autocratic manner.
- 2002, David Jeremiah, C. C. Carlson, The Handwriting on the Wall
- With an ear-shattering roar, the huge cats came bounding from their caverns and skidded to a stop as if a powerful hand had reigned them abruptly.
Translations
exercise sovereign power
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