regent

noun

1. a person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.
2. a ruler or governor.
3. a member of the governing board of a state university or a state educational system.
4. a university officer who exercises general supervision over the conduct and welfare of the students.
5. (in certain Catholic universities) a member of the religious order who is associated in the administration of a school or college with a layperson who is its dean or director.

adjective

6. acting as regent of a country; exercising ruling authority in behalf of a sovereign during his or her minority, absence, or disability (usually used postpositively): a prince regent.

noun

1. the ruler or administrator of a country during the minority, absence, or incapacity of its monarch
2. (formerly) a senior teacher or administrator in any of certain universities
3. US and Canadian a member of the governing board of certain schools and colleges
4. rare any person who governs or rules

adjective

5. (usually postpositive) acting or functioning as a regenta queen regent
6. rare governing, ruling, or controlling

n.

“one who rules during the minority or absence of a sovereign,” c.1400, from the adjective (now archaic, attested in English late 14c.), from Old French regent and directly from Medieval Latin regentem (nominative regens), from Latin regens “ruler, governor,” noun use of present participle of regere “to rule, direct” (see regal). Senses of “university faculty member” is attested from mid-15c., originally Scottish.