imperial

¹

[ im-peer-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of, like, or pertaining to an empire.
2. of, like, or pertaining to an emperor or empress.
3. characterizing the rule or authority of a sovereign state over its dependencies.
4. of the nature or rank of an emperor or supreme ruler.
5. of a commanding quality, manner, aspect, etc.
6. domineering; imperious.

   Synonyms: autocratic, high-handed, despotic

7. befitting an emperor or empress; regal; majestic; grand.
8. of special or superior size or quality, as various products and commodities.
9. (of weights and measures) conforming to the standards legally established in Great Britain.

noun

1. a size of printing or drawing paper, 22 × 30 inches (56 × 76 centimeters) in England, 23 × 33 inches (58 × 84 centimeters) in the United States.
2. imperial octavo, a size of book, about 8¼ × 11½ inches (21 × 29 centimeters), untrimmed, in the United States, and 7½ × 11 inches (19 × 28 centimeters), untrimmed, in England. : imperial 8vo
3. imperial quarto, Chiefly British. a size of book, about 11 × 15 inches (28 × 38 centimeters), untrimmed. : imperial 4to
4. the top of a carriage, especially of a diligence.
5. a case for luggage carried there.
6. a member of an imperial party or of imperial troops.
7. an emperor or empress.
8. any of various articles of special size or quality.
9. an oversized bottle used especially for storing Bordeaux wine, equivalent to 8 regular bottles or 6 liters (6.6 quarts).

imperial

²

[ im-peer-ee-uhl ]

noun

1. a small, pointed beard beneath the lower lip.

imperial

³

[ im-peer-ee-uhl ]

noun

1. a Russian gold coin originally worth 10 rubles and from 1897 to 1917 worth 15 rubles.

Imperial

¹

/ ɪmˈpɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. sometimes not capital of or relating to a specified empire, such as the British Empire

noun

1. a supporter or soldier of the Holy Roman Empire

imperial

²

/ ɪmˈpɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to an empire, emperor, or empress
2. characteristic of or befitting an emperor; majestic; commanding
3. characteristic of or exercising supreme authority; imperious
4. (esp of products and commodities) of a superior size or quality
5. usually prenominal (of weights, measures, etc) conforming to standards or definitions legally established in Britain

   an imperial gallon

noun

1. any of various book sizes, esp 7 1 2 by 11 inches ( imperial octavo ) or (chiefly Brit) 11 by 15 inches ( imperial quarto )
2. a size of writing or printing paper, 23 by 31 inches (US and Canadian) or 22 by 30 inches (Brit)
3. (formerly) a Russian gold coin originally worth ten roubles
4. 1. the top of a carriage, such as a diligence
   2. a luggage case carried there
5. architect a dome that has a point at the top
6. a small tufted beard popularized by the emperor Napoleon III
7. a member of an imperial family, esp an emperor or empress
8. a red deer having antlers with fourteen points

Derived Forms

• imˈperially, adverb
• imˈperialness, noun

Other Words From

• im·peri·al·ly adverb
• im·peri·al·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperial¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin imperiālis, equivalent to Latin imperi(um) “supreme authority, rule, empire” + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English emperial, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above; imperium, -al ¹

Origin of imperial²

First recorded in 1835–45; from French impériale, noun use of feminine of impérial; imperial ¹

Origin of imperial³

First recorded in 1760–70; from Russian imperiál, ultimately from Medieval Latin imperiālis a coin, noun use of Late Latin imperiālis; imperial ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperial¹

C14: from Late Latin imperiālis, from Latin imperium command, authority, empire

Example Sentences

That ultimately made British industry less competitive, Chambers says, as UK companies were sheltered behind imperial tariffs instead of going head-to-head with the likes of France, Germany, and Italy.

From Quartz

Sinofuturism is also a way to consider what exactly is this imperial force that China’s becoming, and to provoke questions around that.

From MIT Technology Review

Its rich history revolves around its role as a bustling imperial port city.

From Washington Post

We focus rather on British colonial rule through imperial companies.

From Quartz

The live-action remake of the 1998 animated film, Mulan stars Liu Yifei as a young woman in imperial China who disguises herself as a man so she can take her aging father’s place in the emperor’s army.

From Vox

Today, the Imperial family can be found dining at Honke Owariya upon their return from Tokyo.

From The Daily Beast

Pan Am was once an imperial power in its own right, girdling the globe.

From The Daily Beast

Whether the country or the courts buy into his imperial tantrum remains to be seen.

From The Daily Beast

Japan had something called the Imperial Rule Assistance Association.

From The Daily Beast

And far from being secondary partners, Scots featured disproportionately in overseas imperial exploitation.

From The Daily Beast

Ripperda accompanied this unexpected refusal, with a laboured epistle to his imperial friend.

From Project Gutenberg

The hour was beyond the time in which he ought to have been in the imperial boudoir, to await the hand of his intended bride.

From Project Gutenberg

Vienna capitulated to the French, and Napoleon established his head quarters in the imperial palace of Schoenbrunn.

From Project Gutenberg

The Imperial Parliament will never concede that right, nor will any Legislature similarly constituted.

From Project Gutenberg

This chapel is situated near the Imperial Palace, to which it is connected by means of a covered gallery.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• royal
• stately