What’s the difference between regime and regimen? In one sense, there is none, but in their most common connotations, one letter makes a lot of difference.
Both terms stem ultimately from Latin regere, meaning “to direct.” They are related to other words starting with reg-, such as regular, regulate, and regulation. In addition, they are akin to other words referring to direction, including reign, right, and rule and ruler, as well as the element rect in, for example, direct and rectitude. The Hindi word raja, the German term reich, and the Latin form rex are also part of this regal family tree.
Regime, borrowed from French (and sometimes, as in French, written in English as régime), can refer to a regular pattern or behavior of a natural phenomenon, but more often it denotes a form of management or rule, or a government or the duration of its rule. In this last sense, it generally has a negative connotation, implying a repressive, totalitarian government.
The phrase “ancien régime,” sometimes styled with initial capital letters, refers to the sociopolitical system in France during the several centuries preceding that country’s revolution in 1789 and, coined by revolutionaries, was a derogatory dismissal of the outmoded model of government. (However, to others it conveyed a nostalgia for a time when aristocrats, not the bourgeoisie, set cultural standards.) The generic term, as well as the Anglicized form “ancient regime” or the translation “old regime,” refers to any such ineffectual and/or corrupt government or management.
Regimen was borrowed directly from Latin into Middle English to refer to a direction, a set of rules, or a position of authority. It is, in one sense, synonymous with regime to denote rule but is now rarely used for that meaning; more often it pertains to a training system, as for athletes, or a plan intended to improve one’s health.
One other word closely related to regime and regimen is regiment. It, too, once referred to rule, but now its primary sense as a noun is a reference to a military unit that originally numbered about a thousand soldiers but in modern armies varies widely according to a unit’s particular function. The term is also used as a verb synonymous with organize, in the sense that a regiment is neatly arrayed in marching and inspection formations. However, the connotation of the verb form is often negative, implying excessive control.
“…implying a repressive, totalitarian government.”
Or at least one that crosses Uncle Sam, and that he wishes to get rid of!
In Arabic, regime is used to denote the concept of dieting. I believe it’s a borrowing from French (one of many). Similarly, perruque is a wig and direction is a steering wheel in Arabic.
I have to quote::
“Regimen was borrowed directly from Latin into Middle English to refer to a direction, a set of rules, or a position of authority. It is, in one sense, synonymous with regime to denote rule but is now rarely used for that meaning; more often it pertains to a training system, as for athletes, or a plan intended to improve one’s health.”.
“Regimen was borrowed directly from Latin into Middle English to refer to a direction, a set of rules, or a position of authority. It is, in one sense, synonymous with regime to denote rule but is now rarely used for that meaning; more often it pertains to a training system, as for athletes, or a plan intended to improve one’s health.”.
I think we need to read between lines :/.
Regime is still a set of strick rules. Can be applied to a population, closed group or to what we eat. It may have been overused, and from then has been used in reference to diet. I still believe there is no diference from what I know and form the use we give it in Spanish. Possibly French lost the last letter of the latin word or denied to declin it anymore :/.
Good stuff anyway.
Pablo Mesa: Can’t make much sense of your post. ? ?
These two words seem to be becoming interchangeable in everyday use, which by their definitions does make some sense, but with the longstanding context and usage of these words, sounds more like confusion.
I’m very irritated when somebody says they are “sticking to their workout regime” and all I can imagine is a communist fitness boot camp. Sure, they can point out the definition of the word “regime” and claim that it’s a legitimate use, but that’s just not how this word has ever functioned in common use.
This is probably a case of learning words through reading versus conversation. It is definitely a new peeve of mine.