reign Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful
    • he was helpless under the reign of his egotism
  2. noun the period during which a monarch is sovereign
    • during the reign of Henry VIII
  3. noun royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
    sovereignty.
  4. verb have sovereign power
    • Henry VIII reigned for a long time
  5. verb be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
    dominate; prevail; rule; predominate.
    • Money reigns supreme here
    • Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood

WordNet

Reign noun
Etymology
OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F. règne, fr. L. regnum, fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.
Definitions
  1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
    He who like a father held his reign. Pope.
    Saturn's sons received the threefold 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 Elizabeth.
Reign intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F. régner, fr. L. regnare, fr. regnum. See Reign, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Reigned present participle & verbal noun Reigning
Definitions
  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? Shak.
  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 1913