Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Regent?

\Re"gent\ (r?"jent), a. [L. regens, -entis, p. pr. of regere to rule: cf. F. r['e]gent. See {Regiment}.] 1. Ruling; governing; regnant. ``Some other active regent principle . . . which we call the soul.'' --Sir M. Hale. 2. Exercising vicarious authority. --Milton. {Queen regent}. See under {Queen}, n.
\Re"gent\, n. [F. r['e]gent. See {Regent}, a.] 1. One who rules or reigns; a governor; a ruler. --Milton. 2. Especially, one invested with vicarious authority; one who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign. 3. One of a governing board; a trustee or overseer; a superintendent; a curator; as, the regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 4. (Eng.Univ.) A resident master of arts of less than five years' standing, or a doctor of less than twwo. They were formerly privileged to lecture in the schools. {Regent bird} (Zo["o]l.), a beautiful Australian bower bird ({Sericulus melinus}). The male has the head, neck, and large patches on the wings, bright golden yellow, and the rest of the plumage deep velvety black; -- so called in honor of the Prince of Wales (afterward George IV.), who was Prince Regent in the reign of George III. {The Regents of the University of the State of New York}, the members of a corporate body called the University of New York. They have a certain supervisory power over the incorporated institution for Academic and higher education in the State.