emperor

[em-per-er]

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).

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

Related Words for emperor

king, empress, dictator, monarch, czar, sultan, sovereign, prince

Examples from the Web for emperor

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
She recovered and was soon seen in the company of El Chino Antrax, emperor of the Los Antrax hit squad.
Is Mexico's Kim Kardashian-Lookalike Assassin for Real?
Michael Daly
June 10, 2014

Historical Examples of emperor

It was trusted often, was in attendance on the Emperor, and was fairly well paid.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
It does not matter whether we recognize a king or an emperor or a president as our ruler.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
One would think he was the Emperor what's his name, or the Grand Turk.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa
The emperor pulled my ear, as much as to say, 'Well, here is an odd one!'
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa
Perhaps you think that our emperor once an emperor, would rest at home.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa

British Dictionary definitions for emperor

emperor

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

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."