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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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

reign Usage Examples

Object

  • monarch: The first heir born to a reigning monarch for three quarters of a century.

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.

Adjective complement

  • supreme: In the narrow medieval streets of the town, blessed with a wealth of historic houses, Plas Mawr reigns supreme.

Noun used with modifier

  • chaos: Trains clatter overhead on the top tier, while on the lower level barely controlled chaos reigns.

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.

Preposition: of

  • terror: Some others gladly look forward to a reign of terror.

Modifies a noun

  • supreme: It corresponds to the conviction that the National Socialist ideology must reign supreme.
reign usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

reign quotes

I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute; From the centre all round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute. O Solitude! where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place.

-Cowper,William

His lazy, long, lascivious reign.

-Defoe, Daniel

From his childhood onward this boy will be surrounded by sycophants and flatterers by the score, and will be taught to believe himself as of a superior creation. A line will be drawn between him and the people whom he is to be called upon some day to reign over. In due course, following the precedent which has already been set, he will be sent on a tour round the world, and probably rumours of a morganatic alliancewill follow, and the end of it all will bethattheCountry will be calledupontopay the bill.

-Hardie, (James) Keir

reign quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"reign." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/reign>

APA Style

reign. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/reign

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