realm (relm)

[ Pes among the puple he put to the reaume . William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 5240. Sydrak, Misak, and Abdenago: that is to seye, God glorious, and God victorious, and God over alle Thinges and Remes . Mandeville , Travels, p. 35. Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes May rede of dremes many a wonder thing. Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, 1. 316. Which Salique land the French unjustly glose To be the realm of France. Shak ., Hen. V., i. 2. 41. Thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey. Pope , R. of the L., iii. 7. These are our realms , no limit to their sway- Our flag the sceptre all who meet obey. Byron , Corsair, i. 1. 2. Figuratively, a jurisdiction or domain in general; a sphere of power, influence, or operation; province; arena. Dryden, Iliad, The Godde goes exulting from his sight, And seeks the seas profound, and leaves the realms of light. 3. In zoögeog., a prime division of the earth's surface; a faunal area of the largest extent; a zoölogical region of the first order. - To abjure the realm. See abjure.