Regent \Re"gent\, n. [F. r['e]gent. See Regent, a.]
   1. One who rules or reigns; a governor; a ruler. --Milton.
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   2. Especially, one invested with vicarious authority; one who
      governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability
      of the sovereign.
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   3. One of a governing board; a trustee or overseer; a
      superintendent; a curator; as, the regents of the
      Smithsonian Institution.
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   4. (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.
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   Regent bird (Zool.), 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.
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