imperial

[ im-peer-ee-uhl ]

/ ɪmˈpɪər i əl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, like, or pertaining to an empire.

of, like, or pertaining to an emperor or empress.

characterizing the rule or authority of a sovereign state over its dependencies.

of the nature or rank of an emperor or supreme ruler.

of a commanding quality, manner, aspect, etc.

domineering; imperious.

befitting an emperor or empress; regal; majestic; very fine or grand; magnificent.

of special or superior size or quality, as various products and commodities.

(of weights and measures) conforming to the standards legally established in Great Britain.

noun

a size of printing or drawing paper, 22 × 30 inches (56 × 76 cm) in England, 23 × 33 inches (58 × 84 cm) in America.

imperial octavo, a size of book, about 8¼ × 11½ inches (21 × 29 cm), untrimmed, in America, and 7½ × 11 inches (19 × 28 cm), untrimmed, in England. Abbreviation: imperial 8vo

imperial quarto, Chiefly British. a size of book, about 11 × 15 inches (28 × 38 cm), untrimmed. Abbreviation: imperial 4to

the top of a carriage, especially of a diligence.

a case for luggage carried there.

a member of an imperial party or of imperial troops.

an emperor or empress.

any of various articles of special size or quality.

an oversized bottle used especially for storing Bordeaux wine, equivalent to 8 regular bottles or 6 liters (6.6 quarts).

Origin of imperial

1325–75; Middle English < Late Latin imperiālis, equivalent to Latin imperi(um) imperium + -ālis -al¹; replacing Middle English emperial < Middle French < Late Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR imperial

6 despotic, high-handed, authoritarian.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperial ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM imperial

im·pe·ri·al·ly, adverb im·pe·ri·al·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperial

imperative imperial imperious

Words nearby imperial

imperfective, imperforate, imperforate anus, imperforation, imperia, imperial, imperial beach, imperial bushel, imperial eagle, imperial gallon, imperial jade

Definition for imperial (2 of 3)

imperial ²

[ im-peer-ee-uh l ]

/ ɪmˈpɪər i əl /

noun

a small, pointed beard beneath the lower lip.

Origin of imperial

1835–45; < French impériale, noun use of feminine of impérial imperial¹

Definition for imperial (3 of 3)

imperial ³

[ im-peer-ee-uh l ]

/ ɪmˈpɪər i əl /

noun

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

Origin of imperial

1830–40; < Russian imperiál ≪ Medieval Latin imperiālis a coin, noun use of Late Latin imperiālis imperial¹

Example sentences from the Web for imperial

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

Inside The World’s 10 Oldest Restaurants |Justin Jones |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Pan Am was once an imperial power in its own right, girdling the globe.

Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana! |Clive Irving |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Whether the country or the courts buy into his imperial tantrum remains to be seen.

With Immigration Move, Obama and the Welfare Party Strike Again |Lloyd Green |November 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Japan had something called the Imperial Rule Assistance Association.

Dole, Nazis, and Desperation in Kansas |Michael Tomasky |September 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

It was Scottish imperial pursuits that supplied the capital needed for industry, all while concentrating wealth in fewer hands.

Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality |Noah Caldwell |September 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Imperial Conference met in London in the spring of 1917.

The Canadian Dominion |Oscar D. Skelton
On the contrary, His Imperial Majesty appeals to their sentiments of justice, and to the consciousness of their own dignity.

The British Expedition to the Crimea |William Howard Russell
"In Caesar's name," repeated the official, who had been selected for the duty of reading the Imperial message.

Serapis, Complete |Georg Ebers
Von Herbert wrote an order to the Major of the Pandours for a detachment to take the duty of the imperial apartments.

Tales from Blackwood |Various
The Imperial Chancellor, on his own initiative, had summarily announced my abdication—which had not occurred yet at all!

The Kaiser's Memoirs |William II, German Emperor

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (1 of 2)

imperial

/ (ɪmˈpɪərɪəl) /

adjective

of or relating to an empire, emperor, or empress

characteristic of or befitting an emperor; majestic; commanding

characteristic of or exercising supreme authority; imperious

(esp of products and commodities) of a superior size or quality

(usually prenominal) (of weights, measures, etc) conforming to standards or definitions legally established in Britain an imperial gallon

noun

any of various book sizes, esp 7 1/2 by 11 inches (imperial octavo) or (chiefly Brit) 11 by 15 inches (imperial quarto)

a size of writing or printing paper, 23 by 31 inches (US and Canadian) or 22 by 30 inches (Brit)

(formerly) a Russian gold coin originally worth ten roubles

the top of a carriage, such as a diligence
a luggage case carried there

architect a dome that has a point at the top

a small tufted beard popularized by the emperor Napoleon III

a member of an imperial family, esp an emperor or empress

a red deer having antlers with fourteen points

Derived forms of imperial

imperially, adverb imperialness, noun

Word Origin for imperial

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

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (2 of 2)

Imperial

/ (ɪmˈpɪərɪəl) /

adjective

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

noun

a supporter or soldier of the Holy Roman Empire

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperial

adjective

noun

Origin of imperial

SYNONYMS FOR imperial

OTHER WORDS FROM imperial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperial

Words nearby imperial

Definition for imperial (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of imperial

Definition for imperial (3 of 3)

noun

Origin of imperial

Example sentences from the Web for imperial

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperial

Word Origin for imperial

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperial

adjective

noun

Origin of imperial

SYNONYMS FOR imperial

OTHER WORDS FROM imperial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperial

Words nearby imperial

Definition for imperial (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of imperial

Definition for imperial (3 of 3)

noun

Origin of imperial

Words related to imperial

Example sentences from the Web for imperial

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperial

Word Origin for imperial

British Dictionary definitions for imperial (2 of 2)

adjective

noun