empire

American  

[em-pahy^uhr, om-peer] / ˈɛm paɪər, ɒmˈpɪər /

noun

1. a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.

2. a government under an emperor or empress.

3. (often initial capital letter) the historical period during which a nation is under such a government.

   a history of the second French empire.

4. supreme power in governing; imperial power; sovereignty.

   The legacy of empire is complex, and always entwined with colonialism and nationalism.

   Synonyms:

   supremacy, rule, dominion

5. supreme control; absolute sway.

   passion's empire over the mind.

6. a powerful and important enterprise or holding of large scope that is controlled by a single person, family, or group of associates.

   The family's shipping empire was founded 50 years ago.

7. (initial capital letter) a variety of apple somewhat resembling the McIntosh.

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adjective

1. (initial capital letter) characteristic of or developed during the first French Empire, 1804–15.

2. (usually initial capital letter) (of women's attire and coiffures) of the style that prevailed during the first French Empire, in clothing being characterized especially by décolletage and a high waistline, coming just below the bust, from which the skirt hangs straight and loose.

3. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the style of architecture, furnishings, and decoration prevailing in France and imitated to a greater or lesser extent in various other countries, c1800–30: characterized by the use of delicate but elaborate ornamentation imitated from Greek and Roman examples or containing classical allusions, as animal forms for the legs of furniture, bas-reliefs of classical figures, motifs of wreaths, torches, caryatids, lyres, and urns and by the occasional use of military and Egyptian motifs and, under the Napoleonic Empire itself, of symbols alluding to Napoleon I, as bees or the letter N.

Empire ¹ British  

/ ˈɛmpaɪə /

noun

1. See British Empire

2. French history

   1. the period of imperial rule in France from 1804 to 1815 under Napoleon Bonaparte

   2. Also called: Second Empire.  the period from 1852 to 1870 when Napoleon III ruled as emperor

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adjective

1. denoting, characteristic of, or relating to the British Empire

2. denoting, characteristic of, or relating to either French Empire, esp the first: in particular, denoting the neoclassical style of architecture and furniture and the high-waisted style of women's dresses characteristic of the period

empire ² British  

/ ˈɛmpaɪə /

noun

1. an aggregate of peoples and territories, often of great extent, under the rule of a single person, oligarchy, or sovereign state

2. any monarchy that for reasons of history, prestige, etc, has an emperor rather than a king as head of state

3. the period during which a particular empire exists

4. supreme power; sovereignty

5. a large industrial organization with many ramifications, esp a multinational corporation

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Other Word Forms

• interempire adjective
• pre-Empire adjective
• proempire adjective

Etymology

Origin of empire

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin imperium “mastery, sovereignty, empire”; empery

Example Sentences

After the war, Jacob, back in Louisiana, bought up distressed plantations, and Bernard returned to “this rough, rural, ruined place” to help run their business and agricultural empire.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whereas Chelsea and Manchester City were able to spend freely to build their empire, governing bodies now have the shackles on.

From BBC

Over a decadeslong buying spree, he cobbled together an empire that spanned 250 properties and 206 million square feet—giving Simon control of more retail space than anyone in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

Scottish investors had tried to evade economic subjugation to England by setting up an empire of their own.

From The Wall Street Journal

The year 2021 marked the 500th anniversary of the fall of Tenochtitlán, the site of modern-day Mexico City and the capital of the Aztec empire, at the hands of Hernán Cortés and his small army.

From BBC

Related Words

• authority