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Synonyms

sceptre

American  
[sep-ter] / ˈsɛp tər /

noun

sceptred, sceptring

  1. Chiefly British. a variant of scepter.

sceptre British  
/ ˈsɛptə /

noun

  1. a ceremonial staff held by a monarch as the symbol of authority

  2. imperial authority; sovereignty

"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

verb

  1. (tr) to invest with authority

"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

Other Word Forms

  • sceptred adjective

Etymology

Origin of sceptre

C13: from Old French sceptre, from Latin scēptrum, from Greek skeptron staff

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Flowers spelling "Vivienne", "James" and "Son" were in the hearse, and the crown and sceptre awarded to Drag Race winners were carried ahead of the coffin.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2025

The result: An imposing figure of a seated emperor, draped in a gilded tunic and holding a sceptre and orb, gazing out over his Rome from a side garden of the Capitoline Museums.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

The King will receive the the crown, sceptre and sword which make up the Honours of Scotland.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023

The crown, sceptre and sword will be carried into the cathedral by dignitaries including former Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023

The sceptre of Diocletian was smoking in Nico’s hands.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.