Reign (r?n), n. [OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F. regne, fr. L. regnum, fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.]
1.
Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
He who like a father held his reign.
Pope.
Saturn's sons received the threefold reign
Of heaven, of ocean,, and deep hell beneath.
Prior.
2.
The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
[God] him bereft the regne that he had.
Chaucer.
3.
The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.
© Webster 1913.
Reign (r?n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (r?nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reigning.] [OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F. r'egner, 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.
We will not have this man to reign over us.
Luke xix. 14.
Shall Banquo's issue ever
Reign in this kingdom?
Shak.
2.
Hence, to be predominant; to prevail.
"Pestilent diseases which commonly
reign in summer."
Bacon.
3.
To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.
Rom. vi. 12.
Syn. -- To rule; govern; direct; control; prevail.
© Webster 1913.