imperial

im·pe·ri·al

Use imperial in a sentence

adjective

The definition of imperial is something magnificent, domineering or related to an empire.

A royal government with control over an empire is an example of an imperial government.
A person with a domineering and controlling manner is an example of someone who would be described as having an imperial personality.
A mansion that is magnificent and impresses everyone is an example of an imperial mansion.

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"imperial." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial>.

APA Style

imperial. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial

imperial

of an empire
of a country having control or sovereignty over other countries or colonies
of, or having the rank of, an emperor or empress
having supreme authority; sovereign
1. majestic; august
2. imperious
of great size or superior quality
1. of or pertaining to the Commonwealth
2. according to the standard of weights and measures set by British law and used in Great Britain, Canada, and some other countries

Origin of imperial

Old French from Classical Latin imperialis from imperium, empire

[I-] a supporter or a soldier of any of the Holy Roman emperors
the roof or top of a coach, or a luggage case carried on it
an article of great size or superior quality
a size of writing paper measuring 23 by 31 inches (in England, 22 by 30 or 32 inches)
Origin of imperial
after the emperor Louis Napoleon, who set this fashion
a pointed tuft of beard on the lower lip and chin

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MLA Style

"imperial." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial>.

APA Style

imperial. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial

imperial

adjective

Of, relating to, or suggestive of an empire or a sovereign, especially an emperor or empress: imperial rule; the imperial palace.
Ruling over extensive territories or over colonies or dependencies: imperial nations.
a. Having supreme authority; sovereign.
b. Regal; majestic.
Outstanding in size or quality.
Of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights and measures.

noun

An emperor or empress.
The top of a carriage.
Something outstanding in size or quality.
A variable size of paper, usually 23 by 33 inches (55.8 by 83.8 centimeters).
A pointed beard grown from the lower lip and chin.

Origin of imperial

Middle English from Old French from Latin imperiālis from imperium command ; see empire . N., sense 5, after the beard of Napoleon III

Related Forms:

im·pe′ri·al·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"imperial." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial>.

APA Style

imperial. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Imperial

Adjective

(comparative more imperial, superlative most imperial)

Related to an empire, emperor, or empress.
Relating to the British imperial system of measurement.
Very grand or fine.
Of special, superior, or unusual size or excellence.

Related terms

empress
imperious

Noun

(plural imperials)

A bottle of wine (usually Bordeaux) containing 6 liters of fluid, eight times the volume of a standard bottle.
(paper, printing) A printing-paper size measuring 30 inches x 22 inches.

Usage notes

A Champagne or Burgundy wine bottle with this volume would be called a Methuselah.

Origin

From Old French imperial, from Latin imperiālis (“of the empire or emperor, imperial”), from imperium (“empire, imperial government”) + -ālis, from imperō (“command, order”), from im- (“form of in”) + parō (“prepare, arrange; intend”).

See also: impérial

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.