regnal 
number of years a sovereign has reigned. It has been 
the practice in various countries to date public docu- 
ments and other deeds from the year of accession of the 
sovereign. The practice still prevails in Great Britain in 
the enumeration of acts of Parliament. 
regnancy (reg'nan-si), 11. [< rcgnan(t) + -<</.] 
The act of reigning; rule; predomiuancf. 
Coleridge. 
regnant (reg'nant), . [= F. regnant = Sp. 
reinante = Pg. regnante, reinante = It. regnante, 
< L. regnan(t-)s, ppr. of regnare, reign: see 
reign.'] 1. Reigning; exercising regal author- 
ity by hereditary right. 
The church of martyrs, and the church of saints, and 
doctors, and confessors, now regnant in heaven. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 214. 
2. Ruling ; predominant ; prevalent ; having 
the chief power. 
His guilt is clear, his proofs are pregnant, 
A traitor to the vices regnant: Swift. 
This Intense and regnant personality of Carlyle. 
The Century, XXVI. 582. 
Queen regnant. See queen. 
regnativet (reg'na-tiv), a. [< L. regnatus, pp. 
of regnare, reign, '+ -ice.'] Ruling; governing. 
[Rare.] 
regnet. . and v. An obsolete spelling of reign. 
regnicide (reg'ni-sid), . [< L. regnum, a king- 
dom, + -cida, < csedere, kill.] The destroyer of 
a kingdom. [Rare.] 
Regicides are no less than regnicides, Lam. iv. 20 ; for the 
life of a king contains a thousand thousand lives, and trai- 
tors make the land sick which they live In. 
Rev. T. Adams, Works, I. 418. 
Regnoli's operation. See operation. 
regnum (reg'num), n. ; pi. regna (-na). [ML., a 
particular use of L. regnum, kingly government, 
royalty: see reign.] 1. A badge or mark of 
royalty or supremacy, generally a crown of 
some unusual character. The word Is especially ap- 
plied to early forms of the papal tiara, a crown similar to a 
royal crown with a high conical cap rising from within it. 
St. Peter (in the seal of the mayor of Exeter) has a lofty 
regnum on his head. 
Jour. Brit. Archival. Ass., XVIII. 257. 
2. [cop.] [NL.] One of three main divisions of 
natural objects (collectively called Imperium 
Natures), technically classed as the BegmimAni- 
male, B. Vegetable, and B. Minerale: used by 
the older naturalists before and for some time 
after Linnaeus, and later represented by the 
familiar English phrases animal, vegetable, and 
mineral kingdom. (See kingdom, 6. ) A fourth, 
R. Primigenimn, was formally named by Hogg. 
See PrimaUa, Protista. 
regorget (re-gorj'), *. * [< OF. (and F.) regorger 
= Pr. regorgar = It. ringorgare, vomit up; as 
re- + gorge, v.] 1. To vomit up; eject from the 
stomach ; throw back or out again. 
It was scoffingly said, he had eaten the king's goose, and 
did then regorge the feathers. Sir J. Hayvard. 
2. To swallow again or back. 
And tides at highest mark regorge the flood. 
Dryden, Sig. and Guis., 1. 18(1. 
3. To devour to repletion. [Rare.] 
Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine, 
And fat regorged of bulls and goats. 
Mutan, S. A., 1. 1671. 
regracest, n. pi. [ME., < OF. regraces, thanks, 
< regracier, < ML. regratiare, regratiari, thank 
again, thank, < L. re-, again, + ML. gratiart; 
thank: see grace.] Thanks. 
With dew regraces. 
Plwmpton Correspondence, p. 5. (HalKwell.) 
regradet (re-grad'), v. i. [Altered to suit the 
orig. grade', and degrade, retrograde, etc.; < L. 
regredi, go or come back, turn back, retire, re- 
treat, < re-, back, + gradi, go : see grade 1 . Cf. 
regrede. Cf. LL. regradare, restore to one's rank 
or to a former condition, also degrade from one's 
rank.] To retire; go back; retrograde. 
They saw the darkness commence at the eastern limb of 
the sun, and proceed to the western, till the whole was 
eclipsed ; and then regrade backwards, from the western 
to the eastern, till his light was fully restored. 
Hales, New Analysis of Chronology, III. 230. 
regrant (re-grant'), v. t. [< AF. regranter, re- 
graunter, grant again; as re- + grant.] To 
grant again. 
This their grace is long, containing a commemoration 
of the benefits vouchsafed their fore-fathers, & a prayer 
for regrantiny the same. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 200. 
regrant (re-grant'), . [< regrant, v.] The act 
of granting again ; a new or fresh grant. 
As there had been no forfeiture, no regrant was needed. 
E. A. Freeman, Norman Conquest, V. 9. 
regrate 1 (re-graf), v. t. [< ME. rcgraten, < OF. 
regrater, sell by retail, regrate, F. regrattei; 
haggle, higgle ; with intrusive r (appar. due to 
5049 
confusion with OF. regrater, dress, mend, scour, 
furbish up for sale : see regrate^) for "regatcr = 
Sp. regatar, rival in sailing, prob. formerly sell 
by retail, haggle (cf. deriv. regatear, retail, 
haggle, wriggle, avoid), = Pg. regatar, buy. 
sell, traffic (cf. deriv. regatear, haggle, bargain 
hard), = Olt. regattare, rigattare, sell by retail, 
haggle, strive for mastery, also *recattare, re- 
cature, buy and sell again by retail, retail, re- 
grate, forestall the market (ML. refl. regatare, 
buy back, redeem), < re-, again, + cattare, get, 
obtain, acqiiire, purchase, < L. capture, strive 
to seize, lay hold of, snatch at, chase, etc.: see 
chase 1 , catch 1 , and cf. acate and purchase. Cf. 
also regatta, from the same source.] To retail ; 
specifically, to buy, as corn or provisions, and 
sell again in or near the same market or fair 
a practice which, from its effect in raising the 
price, was formerly made a criminal offense, of- 
ten classed with engrossing and forestalling. 
And that they regrate no corne commynge to the market, 
in peyne of lesynge xx. 8. for euery of the seid offences. 
English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 381. 
Neither should they likewise buye any corne to sell the 
same agayne, unless it were to make malte therof ; for by 
such engrossing and regratingwe see the dearthe that nowe 
comonly ralgneth heere in England to have bene caused. 
Spenser, Present State of Ireland. 
regrate 2 (re-graf), v. t. [< OF. regrater, dress, 
mend, scour, furbish up for sale, lit. 'scrape 
again,' F. regratter, scrape or scratch again, re- 
grate (masonry)/ re-, again, 4- gra ter, F. gratter, 
scrape, scratch, grate: see grate 1 . The word 
has hitherto been confused with regrate 1 : see 
regrate 1 .] 1. In masonry, to remove the outer 
surface of (an old hewn stone), so as to give it 
a fresh appearance. 2f. To grate or rasp ; in a 
figurative sense, to offend; shock. [Rare.] 
The most sordid animal, those that are the least beau- 
tified with colours, or rather whose clothing may regrate 
the eye. Derham, Physico-Theology, iv. 12. 
regrate 3 t, A Middle English form of regret. 
regrater, regrator (re-gra'ter, -tor), . [(a) E. 
regrater, < ME. regratere, < OF. regratier, F. re- 
grattier, a huckster, = Pr. regratier = Sp. re- 
gatero = Pg. regattiro = It. rigattiere (ML. 
i-egratarius, later also regraterius), huckster; 
(b) E. regrator, < ME. regratour,< OF. regrateor, 
regratour, regrattetir (= Pg. regateador; ML. as 
if *regratator), a huckster, regrater, < regrater, 
regrate: see regrate 1 .] A retailer; a huck- 
ster; specifically, one who buys provisions and 
sells them, especially in the same market or 
fair. 
Ac Mede the mayde the maire hath bisougte, 
Of alle suche sellers syluer to take, 
Or presentz with-oute pens as peces of siluer, 
Hinges or other riechesse the retjrateres to maynetene. 
Piers Plowman (B), iii. 90. 
Xo regratour ne go owt of towne for to engrosy the chaf- 
fare, vpon payne for to be fourty-dayes in the kynges prys- 
one. English Gads (E. E. T. S.), p. 353. 
Regrater or Regrator, a Law-word formerly us'd for one 
that bought by the Great, and sold by Retail ; but It now 
signifies one that buys and sells again any Wares or Vic- 
tuals in the same Market or Fair or within five Miles of 
it. Also one that trims up old Wares for Sale ; a Broker, 
or Huckster. E. Phillips, 170B. 
Jtegraters of bread corn. Taller, No. 118. 
Forestallers and regrators haunted the privy councils of 
the king. /. D'Israeli, Amen, of Lit., I. 379. 
regrateryt, [ME., < OF. "regraterie (ML. re- 
grataria), < regrater, regrate: see regrate 1 .] 
The practice of regrating. 
For thise aren men on this molde that moste harm worcli- 
eth 
To the pore peple that parcel-mele buggen [buy at re- 
tail] ; . . . 
Thei rychen thorw regraterye. Piers Pimeman (B), iii. S3. 
regratiatoryt (re-gra'shi-a-to-ri), n. [< ML. re- 
gratiator, one who gives thanks, < regratiari, 
give thanks (cf. AF. regraces, thanks) : see re- 
graces. Cf. ingratiate.] A returning or giving 
of thanks ; an expression of thankfulness. 
That welnere nothynge there doth remayne 
Wherewith to gyue you my regraciatory. 
Rkelton, Garland of Laurel. 
regratOT; . See regrater. 
regratoriet, . A variant of regratery. 
regratresst (re-gra'tres), n. [< regrater + -ess.] 
A woman who sells at retail ; a female huckster. 
No baker shall give unto the regratresses the six-penee 
. . . by way of hansel-money. 
Rttey, tr. of Liber Albus, p. 232, quoted in Piers Plowman 
[(ed. Skeat), Notes, p. 48. 
regrede (re-gred'), v. i. [< L. regredi, go or 
come back, return, retire, retreat, regrade, < re-, 
back, 4- gradi, go : see grade 1 , and cf . regret.*, 
regrade.] To go back; retrograde, as the apse 
of a planet's orbit. Todhunter. [Rare.] 
regret 
regrediencet (re-gre'di-ens), w. [< L. reg>-(- 
(li< } n(t-)a, ppr. of regredi, go back: see regrede.] 
A returning; a retrograding; a going back. 
No man comes late unto that place from whence 
Never man yet had a regredience. 
Uerrick, Never too Late to Dye. 
regreet (re-gref), . t. [< re- + greet 1 .] 1. To 
greet again ; resalute. 
You, cousin Hereford, upon pain of life, 
Till twice five summers have enrich'd our fields, 
Shall not regreet our fair dominions. 
Shale., Rich. II., i. 3. 142. 
2. To salute; greet. [Rare.] 
Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet 
The daintiest last, to make the end more sweet. 
Shak., Rich. II., i. 3. 7. 
regreet (re-gref), n. [< regreet, v.] A return 
or exchange of salutation ; a greeting. 
One that comes before 
To signify the approaching of his lord ; 
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets. 
Shak.,M. ofV., 11. 9. 89. 
Thus low in humblest heart 
Regreets unto thy truce do we impart. 
Ford, Honour Triumphant, Monarch's Meeting. 
regress (re-gres'), v. i. [= Sp. regresar = Pg. 
regressar,'<. L. regressus, pp. of regredi, go back, 
< re-, back, + gradi, go: see regrede. Cf. di- 
gress, progress, v.] 1. To go back; return to a 
former place or state. 
All ... being forced into fluent consistences, do natu- 
rally regress into their former solidities. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ii. 1. 
2. In astron., to move from east toward west. 
regress (re'gres), n. [= OF. regres, regrez, F. 
regres = Sp. regreso = Pg. It. regresso, < L. re- 
gressus, a returning, return, < regredi, pp. re- 
gressus, go back: see regress, v.] 1. Passage 
back; return. 
The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a 
downfall, or at least an eclipse. 
Bacon, Great Place (ed. 1887). 
'Tis their natural place which they always tend to, and 
from which there is no progress nor regress. Bwmet. 
2. The power or liberty of returning or passing 
back. 
My hand, bully; thou shall have egress and regress. 
Shak., M. W. of W., ii. 1. 226. 
3. In Scots law, reentry. Under the feudal law, 
letters of regress were granted by the superior of a wadset, 
under which he became bound to readmit the wadsetter, 
at any time when he should demand an entry to the wad- 
set. 
4. In canon law. See access, 1. 5. In logic, the 
passage in thought from effect to cause. 
Demonstrative regress, demonstrative reasoning from 
effect to cause. 
regression (re-gresh'on), . [= OF. regression, 
F. regression '= Sp. regresion = Pg. regressSo = 
It. rigressione, < L. regresnio(n-), a going back, 
return, etc., < regredi, pp. regressiis, go back: 
see regress.] 1. The act of passing back or 
returning; retrogression. 
I will leave you whilst I go in and present myself to the 
honourable count ; till my regression, so please you, your 
noble feet may measure this private, pleasant, and most 
princely walk. B. Jonson, Case is Altered, iii. 3. 
2. In astron., motion from east toward west. 
3. Ingeoni., contrary flexure ; also, the course 
of a curve at a cusp Edge of regression, the cus- 
pidal edge of a developable surface. See cuspidal. Re- 
gression Of nodes, a gyratory motion of the orbit of a 
planet, causing the nodes to move from east to west on the 
ecliptic. 
regressive (re-gres'iv), a. [= F. regressif; as 
regress + -ive.] Passing back; returning: op- 
posed to progressive Regressive assimilation, 
assimilation of a sound to one preceding it. Regressive 
method, the analytic method, which, departing from par- 
ticulars, ascends to principles. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, 
xxiv. Regressive paralysis. See paralysis. 
regressively (re-gres iv-li), adv. In a regres- 
sive manner; iii a backward way; by return. 
De Quincey. 
regressus (re-gres'us), w. [NL.: see regress.] 
In bot., that reversion of organs now known as 
retrogressive and retrograde metamorphosis. 
See metamorphosis. 
regret (re-gref ), v.t.; pret. and pp. regretted, 
ppr. regretting. [< F. regretter, regret, OF. re- 
gretter, regreter, regrater, desire, wish for, long 
after, bewail, lament, = Pr. regretar (after F.) ; 
not found in other Rom. languages, and vari- 
ously explained: (a) Orig. 'bewail,' < OF. re- 
+ "grater, from the OLG. form cognate with 
AS. grstan, ME. gretcn, E. greet = Icel. grata, 
weep, wail, mourn, = Sw. grata = Dan. greede 
= Goth, gretan, weep: see greet 2 , (b) < L. re-, 
taken as privative, + gratvs, pleasing, as if 
orig. adj., 'unpleasing,' then a noun, 'displea- 
sure, grief, sorrow': see grate 3 , gree%, agree, 
maiiijre. (c) < ML. as if "regradus, a return 
