regency

/ree"jeuhn see/, n., pl. regencies, adj.

n.

1. the office, jurisdiction, or control of a regent or body of regents exercising the ruling power during the minority, absence, or disability of a sovereign.

2. a body of regents.

3. a government consisting of regents.

4. a territory under the control of a regent or regents.

5. the term of office of a regent.

6. (cap.) Brit. Hist. the period (1811-20) during which George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, was regent.

7. (cap.) Fr. Hist. the period of the minority of Louis XV.

8. the office or function of a regent or ruler.

adj.

9. of or pertaining to a regency.

10. Hist. of or pertaining to the Regencies in England or France.

11. (often cap.) of or pertaining to the style of architecture, furnishings, and decoration of the British Regency, somewhat similar to the French Directoire and Empire styles and characterized by close imitation of ancient Greek forms as well as by less frequent and looser adaptations of ancient Roman, Gothic, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian forms.

[1400-50; late ME < ML regentia. See REGENT, -ENCY]

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