The office of ruler; rule; authority; government. [1913 Webster]
Especially, the office, jurisdiction, or dominion of a regent or vicarious ruler, or of a body of regents; deputed or vicarious government. Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]
A body of men intrusted with vicarious government; as, a regency constituted during a king's minority, absence from the kingdom, or other disability. [1913 Webster]
"A council or regency consisting of twelve persons." [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

regency, n. (pl. -ies)
1 the office of regent.
2 a commission acting as regent.
3 a the period of office of a regent or regency commission. b (Regency) a particular period of a regency, esp. (in Britain) from 1811 to 1820, and (in France) from 1715 to 1723 (often attrib.: Regency costume).

Etymology

ME f. med.L regentia (as REGENT)

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THESAURUS

regency

absolute monarchy, aedileship, agency, agentship, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, archiepiscopate, aristocracy, assignment, autarchy, authority, authorization, autocracy, autonomy, bishopric, brevet, care, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate, chancellorship, charge, chiefery, chiefry, chieftaincy, chieftainry, chieftainship, coalition government, colonialism, commission, commissioning, commitment, commonwealth, consignment, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, consulate, consulship, cure, deanery, delegated authority, delegation, democracy, deputation, devolution, devolvement, dictatorship, dictature, directorship, dominion rule, duarchy, duumvirate, dyarchy, embassy, emirate, empowerment, entrusting, entrustment, episcopacy, errand, executorship, exequatur, factorship, federal government, federation, feudal system, full power, garrison state, gerontocracy, governorship, headship, hegemony, heteronomy, hierarchy, hierocracy, home rule, jurisdiction, leadership, legation, license, lieutenancy, limited monarchy, lordship, magistracy, magistrateship, magistrature, mandate, martial law, masterdom, mastership, mastery, mayoralty, mayorship, meritocracy, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, militarism, military government, mission, mob rule, mobocracy, monarchy, neocolonialism, nobility, ochlocracy, office, oligarchy, pantisocracy, papacy, pashadom, pashalic, patriarchate, patriarchy, plenipotentiary power, police state, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood, popeship, power of attorney, power to act, prefectship, prefecture, premiership, presidency, presidentship, prime-ministership, prime-ministry, princedom, princeship, principality, proconsulate, proconsulship, procuration, protectorate, protectorship, provostry, provostship, proxy, pure democracy, purview, rectorate, rectorship, regentship, representative democracy, representative government, republic, responsibility, ruling class, seigniory, self-determination, self-government, seneschalship, seneschalsy, sheikhdom, sheriffalty, sheriffcy, sheriffdom, shrievalty, social democracy, stratocracy, supervisorship, suzerainship, suzerainty, task, technocracy, thearchy, theocracy, totalitarian government, totalitarian regime, triarchy, tribunate, triumvirate, trust, trusteeship, tyranny, vicarious authority, vizierate, viziership, warrant, welfare state

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ROGET THESAURUS

regency

Commission

N commission, delegation, consignment, assignment, procuration, deputation, legation, mission, embassy, agency, agentship, power of attorney, clerkship, surrogacy, errand, charge, brevet, diploma, exequatur, permit, appointment, nomination, designation, return, charter, ordination, installation, inauguration, investiture, swearing-in, accession, coronation, enthronement, vicegerency, regency, regentship, viceroy, consignee, deputy, agent, delegate, consignee, commissioned, per procurationem.

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