reign

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Exercise of sovereign power, as by a monarch.
2. n. The period during which a monarch rules.
3. n. Dominance or widespread influence: the reign of reason.
4. v. To exercise sovereign power.
5. v. To hold the title of monarch, but with limited authority.
6. v. To be predominant or prevalent: Panic reigned as the fire spread.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Royal or imperial authority; sovereignty: supreme power; control; sway.
2. n. The time during which a monarch occupies the throne: as, an act passed in the present reign.
3. n. The territory over which a sovereign holds sway; empire; kingdom; dominions; realm.
4. n. Power; influence; sway; dominion.
5. To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; govern, as a king or emperor; hold the supreme power; rule.
6. To prevail; be in force.
7. To have dominion or ascendancy; predominate.

Wiktionary

1. n. The exercise of sovereign power.
2. n. The period during which a monarch rules.
3. v. intransitive To exercise sovereign power, or to rule as a monarch

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
2. n. obsolete The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion.
3. n. The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority.
4. v. To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule.
5. v. Hence, to be predominant; to prevail.
6. v. To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. have sovereign power
2. n. royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
3. n. the period during which a monarch is sovereign
4. n. a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful
5. v. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance