Word Direct Answers

What does "reign" mean?

Reign: The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion. [Obs.] Spenser. [God] him bereft the regne that he had. Chaucer.

Additional senses

  1. 2.The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.
  2. 3.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.
  3. 4.Shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom Shak.
  4. 5.Hence, to be predominant; to prevail. "Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer." Bacon.
  5. 6.To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. Rom. vi.

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