As a verb: to rule as a monarch or hold supreme power; as a noun: the periods during which a ruler holds power.
From Old French 'regner', derived from Latin 'regnare' meaning 'to rule' or 'to be king', from 'regnum' meaning 'kingdom'. The word has been in English since the 12th century.
Queen Elizabeth II's reign lasted 70 years—the longest in British history! The word comes from the same Latin root as 'region', 'regular', and 'regiment', all carrying that sense of organized control and authority.
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