What does "regent" mean?

Additional senses

1. 2.One who rules or reigns; a governor; a ruler. Milton.
2. 3.Especially, one invested with vicarious authority; one who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.
3. 4.One of a governing board; a trustee or overseer; a superintendent; a curator; as, the regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
4. 5.(Eng.Univ.) A resident master of arts of less than five years' standing, or a doctor of less than twwo. They were formerly privileged to lecture in the schools. Regent bird (Zoöl.), a beautiful Australian bower bird (Sericulus melinus). The male has the head, neck, and large patches on the wings, bright golden yellow, and the rest of the plumage deep velvety black; -- so called in honor of the Prince of Wales (afterward George IV.), who was Prince Regent in the reign of George III. -- The Regents of the University of the State of New York, the members of a corporate body called the University of New York. They have a certain supervisory power over the incorporated institution for Academic and higher education in the State.