Regere

Regere is a Latin verb meaning to rule, guide, direct, or manage. It covers political governance, command of troops, and the administration of resources, as well as more general senses such as directing a household or guiding a course of action. The range of meanings extends from governing a state to directing ships, laws, or tasks, and it is used both in literal and figurative contexts in classical Latin literature.

Grammatical note: regere belongs to the third conjugation. Its principal parts are regō, regere, rexi, rectum. The verb forms the present with regō (I rule), and has a full set of tenses such as regis, regit, regimus, regitis, regunt; imperfect regēbam; future regam, regēs, reget, regēmus, regētis, regent; perfect rexi; supine rectum. The passive and deponent forms follow standard third-conjugation patterns. In usage, regere governs a direct object such as rempublicam (the republic), exercitum (the army), or officia (duties).

Usage and nuance: regere expresses direct control, leadership, or coordination. It appears in contexts of political leadership, military command, and administration, as well as in more abstract senses of directing fate, ordering events, or keeping things in proper condition. In classical authors, regere conveys the act of ruling or guiding with competence, authority, and sometimes constraint.

Etymology and derivatives: regere is the source of several English terms that reflect governance and guidance, such as regent and regimen, as well as other descendants that trace to the same root meaning rule or direct. The word remains a standard example of a root related to rule and leadership in Latin lexicography.