n. & v.
n. 1 a a permanent unit of an army usu. commanded by a colonel and divided into several companies or troops or batteries and often into two battalions. b an operational unit of artillery etc. 2 (usu. foll. by of) a large array or number. 3 archaic rule, government.
v.tr. 1 organize (esp. oppressively) in groups or according to a system. 2 form into a regiment or regiments. regimentation n.
[ ME (in sense 3) f. OF f. LL regimentum (as REGIMEN) ]