reign English · revision 8021

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1225|origins=la regnum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹeɪ̯n/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English regne, reyne, [[bor|fro|reigne|t=kingdom, land]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|regnum|alt=rēgnum|t=kingship, dominion, realm]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) related to regere, to rule, and rēx, king (see [[regal]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*h₃reǵ-|alt=*reg-|t=to move in a straight line; to lead, rule]].^(Etymonline) The spelling with i appeared before 1387 but did not prevail until well into the 1600s.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A kingdom, a state governed by a monarch: probably about 1225, in ''King Horn'';^(Barnhart 1988) royal power or rule, before 1272 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Trench notes that reign was once the concrete kingdom as well as the abstract rule, quoting the ''Romaunt of the Rose''.^(Trench 1859) The kingdom sense is now obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The period of a monarch's rule is from about 1330 (the mid-14th century),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and sovereignty or royal authority from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The influence or sway of something immaterial is from about 1402,^(OED 1989) and power like a king's from 1725.^(Etymonline) The verb, to hold royal power, is from the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) and of customs or vices, to prevail, from the early 14th.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1225 – a kingdom (obsolete).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1272 – royal power.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 13th century – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1330 – a period of rule.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600s – the spelling reign established.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The period during which a [[monarch]] rules.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Royal power or rule.^(AHD)

+ # Dominance or widespread influence: ''a reign of terror''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To rule as a monarch, or hold the title of monarch.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be dominant or widespread: ''confusion reigned''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[outreign]]

+ * [[reign of terror]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[regal]]

+ * [[regime]]

+ * [[regent]]

+ * [[realm]]

+ * [[royal]]

+ * [[sovereign]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}