regnant

From French regnant and its source, the present participle of Latin regnāre.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛɡnənt/

regnant (not comparable)

1. Reigning, ruling; currently holding power. [from 15th c.]
   • 1910, A. M. Fairbairn, Studies in Religion and Theology, page 99

     The people are now the State, their will is the regnant will, and that will has this characteristic — it loves principles, it hates compromises; and the principles it loves must be regulative, fit to be applied to the work and guidance of life.

2. Dominant; holding sway; having particular power or influence. [from 17th c.]
   • 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic 2011, p. 7:

     The doors of his temples were kept open in time of war, the time in which the ideas of contradiction and conflict are most naturally regnant.

regnant (plural regnants)

1. (obsolete) A sovereign or ruler.
   • Sir Walter Scott, The Abbot (chapter VI)

     Here are two sovereigns in the land, a regnant and a claimant - that is enough of one good thing - but if any one wants more, he may find a king in every peelhouse in the country; so if we lack government, it is not for lack of governors.

• empress regnant
• queen regnant

• Gantner

regnant

1. present participle of regnar

rēgnant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of rēgnō