regnal

American  

[reg-nl] / ˈrɛg nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a sovereign, sovereignty, or reign.

   the second regnal year of Louis XIV.

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regnal British  

/ ˈrɛɡnəl /

adjective

1. of a sovereign, reign, or kingdom

2. designating a year of a sovereign's reign calculated from the date of his or her accession

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Etymology

Origin of regnal

1605–15; < Medieval Latin rēgnālis, equivalent to Latin rēgn ( um ) rule, kingdom + -ālis -al ¹; see reign

Example Sentences

Centuries ago, Swedish kings based their regnal numbers on a list of sovereigns that was partly made up.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

Tomorrow is the coronation of King Charles III, which I’ve come to understand as a sort of regnal equivalent of a bar mitzvah ceremony.

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

George VI was of course christened Albert, at least in part to mollify Queen Victoria, but went with tradition when suddenly obliged to choose a regnal name.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2013

Pope-elects typically pick their regnal names to honor predecessors, mentors, political models, or even family members; often, the decision is interpreted as a signal of the new pope’s intentions, policywise.

From Newsweek • Mar. 13, 2013

The regnal year was usually cited; but the year of the Incarnation was also sometimes given.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various