reign
    n 1: a period during which something or somebody is dominant or
         powerful; "he was helpless under the reign of his egotism"
    2: the period during which a monarch is sovereign; "during the
       reign of Henry VIII"
    3: royal authority; the dominion of a monarch [syn: reign,
       sovereignty]
    v 1: have sovereign power; "Henry VIII reigned for a long time"
    2: be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
       "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this
       neighborhood" [syn: predominate, dominate, rule,
       reign, prevail]

Reign \Reign\ (r[=a]n), n. [OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F.
   r[`e]gne, fr. L. regnum, fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere
   to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.]
   1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule;
      dominion.
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            He who like a father held his reign.  --Pope.
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            Saturn's sons received the threefold reign
            Of heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath. --Prior.
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   2. The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom;
      empire; realm; dominion. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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            [God] him bereft the regne that he had. --Chaucer.
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   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 \Reign\ (r?n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (r?nd); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Reigning.] [OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F.
   r['e]gner, 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.
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            We will not have this man to reign over us. --Luke
                                                  xix. 14.
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            Shall Banquo's issue ever
            Reign in this kingdom?                --Shak.
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   2. Hence, to be predominant; to prevail. "Pestilent diseases
      which commonly reign in summer." --Bacon.
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   3. To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.
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            Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.
                                                  --Rom. vi. 12.
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   Syn: To rule; govern; direct; control; prevail.
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