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empire definition

em·pire (em′pīr′; for adj., also ôm pē′ər, -pir′; äm-)

noun

  1. supreme rule; absolute power or authority; dominion
    1. government by an emperor or empress
    2. the period during which such government prevails
    1. a group of states or territories under the sovereign power of an emperor or empress
    2. a state uniting many territories and peoples under a single sovereign power
  4. an extensive social or economic organization under the control of a single person, family, or corporation

Etymology: ME & OFr < L imperium < imperare: see emperor

adjective

of or characteristic of the first French Empire (1804-15) under Napoleon; specif.,
  1. designating a style of furniture of this period, characterized by massiveness, bronze ornamentation, and motifs of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt
  2. designating a gown in the style of the period, with a short waist, décolleté bodice, flowing skirt, and short, puffed sleeves

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

empire Synonyms

empire

n.

domain, realm, union, federation; see imperialism, nation 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

empire Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • trading: It was once the seat of one of the great trading empires of the ancient world, and is evocative of the past.

Adjective modifier

  • Byzantine: Many of today's popular icon compositions can be traced to their origin in the era of the Byzantine Empire.

Modifies a noun

  • Strike: The band's brand new album, titled The Empire Strikes Back, is set for release in June.

Noun used with modifier

  • colonial: In the second panel, Companies and Colonies, speakers looked at the relation between Scots and the Dutch colonial empire.
empire usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

empire quotes

Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role. The attempt to playa separate power roleöthat is, a role apart from Europe, based on a special relationship with the United States, on being the head of the Commonwealthöis about to be played out. Her Majesty's Government is now attempting, wisely in my opinion, to re-enter Europe.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

The end of our foundation is the knowledge of causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

empire quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"empire." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/empire>

APA Style

empire. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/empire

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