emperor

[ em-per-er ]

/ ˈɛm pər ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR emperor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the male sovereign or supreme ruler of an empire: the emperors of Rome.

Chiefly British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 48 × 72 inches (122 × 183 cm).

Nearby words

Origin of emperor

1175–1225; Middle English empero(u)r < Anglo-French; Old French empereor < Latin imperātor orig., one who gives orders, ruler, equivalent to imperā(re) to order, command (im- im-¹ + -perāre, combining form of parāre to provide, prepare) + -tor -tor

Related formsem·per·or·ship, nounpre·em·per·or, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for emperor

At times, Mario Cuomo seemed to have the humility of a Jesuit and the goals of an emperor.
Mario Cuomo, Always Moving Us Toward the Light|Mike Barnicle|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That is, of course, unless one has something new to say about the French emperor.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem, as many an emperor could confirm, is that culminating points are easiest to identify in retrospect.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He also eventually comes around, killing the Emperor and saving his son, Luke.
The 13 Coolest Movie Dads: ‘Taken,’ ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Die Hard,’ and More|Marlow Stern|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The council concluded with the emperor Constantine insisting that the bishops come to an agreement over the wording of the creed.
Plotting Nicea III Could Be Pope Francis's Masterstroke|Candida Moss|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Emperor rode thither in haste, while Mahommed betook himself to the shore of the sea.
The Prince of India, Volume II|Lew. Wallace
I placed it on the grass some distance away, while the Emperor followed me, utterly astounded at the discovery.
The Secrets of Potsdam|William Le Queux
At last it happened that the Emperor came upon a book which said this, and he at once sent for his Chamberlain.
Stories to Tell Children|Sara Cone Bryant
Terrified by Josephine's condition, the emperor hurried to Paris, and sent his own physician to inquire after her condition.
Queen Hortense|L. Mhlbach
This king despatched a return embassy to Fu-nan and his ambassadors met there an official sent by the Emperor of China.
Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Charles Eliot

British Dictionary definitions for emperor

emperor

/ (ˈɛmpərə) /

noun

a monarch who rules or reigns over an empire

Also called: emperor moth any of several large saturniid moths with eyelike markings on each wing, esp Saturnia pavonia of EuropeSee also giant peacock moth

See purple emperor

Derived Formsemperorship, noun

Word Origin for emperor

C13: from Old French empereor, from Latin imperātor commander-in-chief, from imperāre to command, from im- + parāre to make ready

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for emperor

emperor

early 13c., from Old French empereor (accusative; nominative emperere; Modern French empereur), from Latin imperiatorem (nominative imperiator) "commander, emperor," from past participle stem of imperare "to command" (see empire).

Originally a title conferred by vote of the Roman army on a successful general, later by the Senate on Julius and Augustus Caesar and adopted by their successors except Tiberius and Claudius. In the Middle Ages, applied to rulers of China, Japan, etc.; only non-historical European application in English was to the Holy Roman Emperors (who in German documents are called kaiser), from late 13c., until in 1804 Napoleon took the title "Emperor of the French."