reign

name

1. A male given name.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English regnen, from Old French reignier, from the Latin verb rēgnō, and the noun rēgnum. Doublet of regnum. Displaced native Old English rīċe (“a reign”) and ricsian (“to reign”).

1. The exercise of sovereign power.

   “England prospered under Elizabeth I's reign.”

   “Throughout history, no single dictator has successfully upheld their reign forever, no matter how powerful they seemed to be.”

2. The period during which a monarch rules.

   “The reign of Victoria was a long one.”

3. The territory or sphere over which a kingdom; empire; realm; dominion, etc. is ruled.

   “And the Fox guileful, and most covetous; / That neither pleased was, to have the reign / Twixt them divided into even twain”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English regnen, from Old French reignier, from the Latin verb rēgnō, and the noun rēgnum. Doublet of regnum. Displaced native Old English rīċe (“a reign”) and ricsian (“to reign”).

1. To exercise sovereign power, to rule as a monarch.

   “He reigned in an autocratic manner.”

   “Both we will raigne as Conſuls of the earth, And mightie kings ſhall be our Senators.”

2. To reign over (a country)

   “The House of Piast reigned Poland from its foundation to 1385.”

3. To be the winner of the most recent iteration of a competition.
4. To be a dominant quality of a place or situation; to prevail, predominate, rule.

   “Silence reigned.”

   “Silence reigned, broken only by the hideous screeching of vultures and the sound of a lawn-mower being used in the hospital grounds.”