Etymograph

English

regency

Regency comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-1‘to straighten’root named by Wiktionary · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500regencie1
  3. Englishtodayregency1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English regency

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-Wiktionary, English regency‘to straighten’root named by Wiktionary · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500regencieWiktionary, English regency
  3. EnglishtodayregencyWiktionary, English regency

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’

right, real, source, director, rule, rich, royal, direction, address, direct, correct, region, regular, dress, rank, roy, radar, arrangement, rack, ana, rogue, regime, arrange, resurrection, rex, interrogation, raj, regulate, rake, erect, rector, insurrection, rani, anorexia, rectify, regal, rectum, rajah, rhesus, droit, 105 more

Today it means

noun A system of government that substitutes for the reign of a king or queen when that king or queen becomes unable to rule.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “regency”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / regency

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