regiment

noun

1. (countable)A unit of armed troops under the command of an officer, and consisting of several smaller units.

   “It was an old, withered man, who had served the Government in the days of the Mutiny as a native officer in a newly raised cavalry regiment.”

   “As the prime minister insisted that he had "never told a lie" in his life, the Tory leader attacked him for ordering Scottish troops into battle with no warning that their regiments would be disbanded.”

2. (archaic, countable, uncountable)Rule or governance over a person, place etc.; government, authority.

   “What place is there in all the world, not ſubiect to the regiment and power of this citie?”

   “Then loyall loue had royall regiment, And each vnto his luſt did make a lawe, From all forbidden things his liking to withdraw.”

   “And how is it possible to distinguish precisely […] the powers of ecclesiastical regiment which none but the church should wield from the powers of ecclesiastical regiment (on the jus circa sacra) which secular and profane governments may handle without sin?”

3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)The state or office of a ruler; rulership.

   “But this it is that doth excruciate The verie ſubſtance of my vexed ſoule: To ſee our neighbours that were wont to quake And tremble at the Perſean Monarkes name, Now ſits and laughs our regiment to ſcorne, […]”

4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Influence or control exercised by someone or something (especially a planet).

   “Nature that fram’d vs of foure Elements, Warring within our breaſts for regiment, Doth teach vs all to haue aſpyring minds:”

5. (countable, obsolete)A place under a particular rule; a kingdom or domain.

   “An auncient booke[…] That of this lands firſt conqueſt did deuize, And old diuiſion into Regiments, […]”

6. (countable, obsolete)A regimen.

verb

1. (transitive)To form soldiers into a regiment.

   “The people are organized or regimented into bodies, and special functions are relegated to the several units.”

2. (transitive)To systematize, or put in rigid order.

   “The result was a tidy, law-abiding country, but one that visitors often described as regimented, sterile and dull.”