regency
/ˈɹiːd͡ʒənsi/ noun, proper noun
Forms regencies
- noun A system of government that substitutes for the reign of a king or queen when that king or queen becomes unable to rule.
- noun The time during which a regent is in power.
- noun An administrative division ranking below a province in Indonesia.
- proper noun (historical) The regency of George Augustus Frederick of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, before he became King George IV; that is, the period in United Kingdom history in which he ruled as prince regent (1811–1820).
Etymology
From Middle English regencie (cf. regente), from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regēns, present participle of regō. By surface analysis, regent + -cy; compare also + -ency (“abstract-noun suffix”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The office of ruler; rule; authority; government.
- noun Especially, the office, jurisdiction, or dominion of a regent or vicarious ruler, or of a body of regents; deputed or vicarious government. Sir W. Temple.
Etymology [CF. F. régence, LL. regentia. See Regent, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “regency”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details