reign

Where does the word "reign" come from? It comes from Latin regere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Reign’s story begins in Latin: regere meant “to rule, to guide.” The root of 'regal', 'regime' and 'rule'. Within Latin, it grew into regnum by ancient. Kingship, rule, kingdom, from regere. From there it passed into Old French as reigne by medieval. Carried into French for the period a ruler holds power. It reached English by 1200s as reign. Settled as the English word for the period a monarch rules. Today, reign means the period during which a monarch or ruler holds power.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient regere "to rule, to guide", the root of 'regal', 'regime' and 'rule'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient regnum "kingship, rule", kingship, rule, kingdom, from regere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval reigne "the period a ruler holds power", carried into French for the period a ruler holds power.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s reign "the period during which a monarch rules", settled as the English word for the period a monarch rules.