The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Regent \Re"gent\, n. [F. r['e]gent. See Regent, a.]
1. One who rules or reigns; a governor; a ruler. --Milton.
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2. Especially, one invested with vicarious authority; one who
governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability
of the sovereign.
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3. One of a governing board; a trustee or overseer; a
superintendent; a curator; as, the regents of the
Smithsonian Institution.
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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.
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Regent bird (Zool.), 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.
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