A Regent Rules for Someone Who Cannot
A regent governs in place of a monarch. The Latin root means ruling, and it also gives us regime and regular.
A regent governs on behalf of a monarch who is absent, ill or under age. The Latin *regere*, to rule, sits behind a large family: *regent*, *regime*, *region*, *regular*, *rex* and *royal*. Britain's Regency, from 1811 to 1820, was so distinctive in style that the period is named after it.
- One ruling for a monarch. *The Prince Regent.*
- Regency — the period or office. *The Regency period.*
- A university governor (American). *The board of regents.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | regent | The Prince Regent. |
| Plural | regents | Two regents. |
| Noun | regency | A long regency. |
| Adjective | Regency | Regency architecture. |
| Related | regime | A military regime. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The British Regency ran from 1811 to 1820.During George III's illness.
- Regent Street is named after him.London.
- Regal, royal and regent share a root.Latin *regere*, to rule.
Words from *regere*, to rule
- Regent — one ruling on behalf of another
- Regime — a system of government
- Region — an area under a rule or direction
- Regular — governed by rule
- Rectify — to make straight or right
From Latin *regentem*, ruling, from *regere*, to rule or direct, from a root meaning to move in a straight line.
When was the British Regency?
From 1811 to 1820, when the future George IV governed during his father's incapacity. The period gave its name to a distinctive architectural style.
Are region and rule related?
Yes. A region was an area under a particular direction or rule, from the same Latin verb.