Rei"gle*ment (-ment), n. [See Reglement.] Rule; regulation. [Obs.]
Bacon. Jer. Taylor.
Reign (rn), n. [OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F. règne, fr. L. regnum,
fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.]
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.
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Reign (r?n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (r?nd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Reigning.] [OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F. régner, fr. L. regnare,
fr. regnum. See Reign, n.] 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.