REIGNING

regnant, reigning, ruling

(adjective) exercising power or authority

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Adjective

reigning (not comparable)

Currently ruling or holding a position.

Verb

reigning

present participle of reign

Source: Wiktionary

REIGN

Reign (rn), n. Etym: [OE. regne, OF. reigne, regne, F. règne, fr. L. regnum, fr. rex, regis, a king, fr. regere to guide, rule. See Regal, Regimen.]

1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion. He who like a father held his reign. Pope. Saturn's sons received the threefold reign Of heaven, of ocean,, and deep hell beneath. Prior.

2. The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion. [Obs.] Spenser. [God] him bereft the regne that he had. Chaucer.

3. The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.

Reign (rn), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reigned (rnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reigning.] Etym: [OE. regnen, reinen, OF. regner, F. régner, fr. L. regnare, fr. regnum. See Reign, n.]

1. To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule. Chaucer. We will not have this man to reign over us. Luke xix. 14. Shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom Shak.

2. Hence, to be predominant; to prevail. "Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer." Bacon.

3. To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. Rom. vi. 12.

Syn.

– To rule; govern; direct; control; prevail.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition