Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - reign

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English regne, from Anglo-French, from Latin regnum, from reg-, rex king — more at royal  Date: 13th century  1.  a. royal authority ; sove~ty under the ~ of the Stuart kings  b. the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch the ~ of the Puritan ministers  2. the time during which one (as a sove~) ~s  II. intransitive verb  Date: 14th century  1.  a. to possess or exercise sove~ power ; rule  b. to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power in England the sove~ ~s but does not rule  2. to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch  3. to be predominant or prevalent chaos ~ed in the classroom