Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adjective
- of or relating to a king; royal: the regal power.
- befitting or resembling a king.
- stately; splendid.
adjective
- of, relating to, or befitting a king or queen; royal
noun
- (sometimes plural) a portable organ equipped only with small reed pipes, popular from the 15th century and recently revived for modern performance
late 14c., from Old French regal “royal” (12c.) or directly from Latin regalis “royal, kingly; of or belonging to a king, worthy of a king,” from rex (genitive regis) “king,” from PIE root *reg- “move in a straight line,” hence, “direct in a straight line, rule, guide” (cf. Sanskrit raj- “a king, a leader;” Avestan razeyeiti “directs;” Persian rahst “right, correct;” Latin regere “to rule,” rex “a king, a leader,” rectus “right, correct;” Old Irish ri, Gaelic righ “a king;” Gaulish -rix “a king,” in personal names, e.g. Vircingetorix; Gothic reiks “a leader;” Old English rice “kingdom,” -ric “king,” rice “rich, powerful,” riht “correct;” Gothic raihts, Old High German recht, Old Swedish reht, Old Norse rettr “correct”). Related: Regally.