Lingered without capital somehow, remained in charge (7)

I believe the answer is:

reigned

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'remained in charge' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'lingered without capital somehow' is the wordplay.
'without capital' means to remove the first letter.
'somehow' is an anagram indicator.
'lingered' with its initial letter taken away is 'ingered'.
'ingered' is an anagram of 'REIGNED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reigned that I've seen before include "Maintained high position" , "Was king" , "Had sovereign power" , "Ruled" , "Was monarch" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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