sceptre
Americannoun
noun
-
a ceremonial staff held by a monarch as the symbol of authority
-
imperial authority; sovereignty
verb
Other Word Forms
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.
See Examples For:
She was also a severe asthmatic, always followed by a "frightened minion carrying her asthma inhaler, as though it were a crown, or a sceptre of some sort".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 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 origins of the sceptre are less certain - it may have been a papal gift to James IV.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2023
The King will receive the the crown, sceptre and sword which make up the Honours of Scotland.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2023
Nico raised his sceptre and the ground trembled.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Even without Lithgow’s Churchill, The Crown looks set to ruffle feathers across this sceptred isle.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 2, 2016
They like it that way on the sceptred isle, defined by rising chalky cliffs, so green and apart.
From US News ● Jun. 27, 2016
And in Richard II, Shakespeare uses the area as the place where John of Gaunt makes his famous "sceptred isle" speech.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2014
The idea which emerged was a potted history of this sceptred isle, starting with the Thames which a deftly edited film followed from its source to Big Ben.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2012
But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
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