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reign Definition

reign (rān)

noun

  1. royal power, authority, or rule; sovereignty
  2. dominance, prevalence, or sway the reign of good will
  3. the period of rule, dominance, sway, etc.

Etymology: ME regne < OFr < L regnum < regere, to rule: see right

intransitive verb

    1. to rule as a sovereign
    2. to hold the title of sovereign, as in a constitutional monarchy
  2. to hold sway; prevail or predominate when peace reigns

Etymology: ME regnen < OFr regner < L regnare, to rule < regnum

  • reignite

reign Synonyms

reign

v.

rule, govern, hold power, hold sovereignty, occupy the throne, wear the crown, wield the scepter, dominate, be supreme, hold sway over, prevail, predominate, administer; see also command 2, govern, manage 1.

reign Usage Examples

Object

  • monarch: The first heir born to a reigning monarch for three quarters of a century.
  • supreme: Content will always be king - make sure it reigns supreme on your site. * Pick the right domain name.
  • champion: Ireland will face South Africa, the reigning world champions, on June 13th.
  • emperor: To illustrate, concerning the nature of imperial sanctity, Shillony argues that the Japanese have not typically regarded the reigning emperors as gods.
  • queen: But Ayesha left home against his wishes to become the reigning queen of modern Bollywood choreography.

Converse of object

succeed: In the two succeeding reigns he still continued his places of privy counselor and treasurer of the chamber.

Adjective modifier

  • millennial: We have a lovely picture of the millennial reign of Christ here on this mountain.
  • managerial: BOSS Gary Mills suffered the heaviest defeat of his managerial reign to end a run of five straight wins.
  • glorious: Another survey was taken in the year 1783; that is to say, in the glorious jubilee reign.

Adjective complement

  • supreme: In the narrow medieval streets of the town, blessed with a wealth of historic houses, Plas Mawr reigns supreme.
  • sovereign: A sprig of the white blossom is cut off and sent to the reigning sovereign.

Noun used with modifier

  • chaos: Trains clatter overhead on the top tier, while on the lower level barely controlled chaos reigns.
  • confusion: Further confusion reigns around the issue of changing doses.

Followed by a transitive particle

unto: And as sin reigned unto death, so grace now reigns unto eternal life.

Preposition: in

  • glory: Remember that Jesus Christ is alive, ascended and reigning in glory and is praying for you and me - even now.
  • heaven: Yes, Jesus really is risen, alive and reigning in heaven.

Preposition: of

  • terror: Some others gladly look forward to a reign of terror.
  • monarch: Edward VIII had the shortest reign of any monarch apart from Lady Jane Gray.
  • king: The reign of the king marks the high point of the 26th Dynasty in terms of wealth and prosperity.

Modifies a noun

supreme: It corresponds to the conviction that the National Socialist ideology must reign supreme.