■ verb
1》 rule as monarch.
2》 [as adjective ~ing ] (of a sports player or team) currently holding a particular title.
3》 prevail: confusion ~ed.
■ noun
1》 the period of rule of a monarch.
2》 the period during which someone or something is predominant or pre-eminent.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~ier 'to ~', ~e 'kingdom', from L. regnum .
Usage
The correct phrase is a free rein , not a free ~ .