Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Empire

Em′pire

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
imperium
a command, sovereignty, dominion, empire, fr.
imperare
. See
Emperor
; cf.
Imperial
.]
1.
Supreme power; sovereignty; sway; dominion.
“The empire of the sea.”
Shak.
Over hell extend
His
empire
, and with iron scepter rule.
Milton.
2.
The dominion of an emperor; the territory or countries under the jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor (rarely of a king), usually of greater extent than a kingdom, always comprising a variety in the nationality of, or the forms of administration in, constituent and subordinate portions;
as, the Austrian
empire
.
Empire
carries with it the idea of a vast and complicated government.
C. J. Smith.
3.
Any dominion; supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway;
as, the
empire
of mind or of reason
.
“Under the empire of facts.”
M. Arnold.
Another force which, in the Middle Ages, shared with chivalry the
empire
over the minds of men.
A. W. Ward.
Syn. – Sway; dominion; rule; control; reign; sovereignty; government; kingdom; realm; state.

Webster 1828 Edition

Empire

EM'PIRE

,
Noun.
[L. imperium; See Emperor.]
1.
Supreme power in governing; supreme dominion; sovereignty; imperial power. No nation can rightfully claim the empire of the ocean.
2.
The territory, region or countries under the jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor. An empire is usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, which may be and often is a territory of small extent. Thus we say, the Russian empire; the Austrian empire; the sovereigns of which are denominated emperors. The British dominions are called an empire, and since the union of Ireland, the parliament is denominated the imperial parliament, but the sovereign is called king. By custom in Europe, the empire means the German empire; and in juridical acts, it is called the holy Roman empire. Hence, we say, the diet of the empire; the circles of the empire; &c. But the German empire no longer exists; the states of Germany now form a confederacy.
3.
Supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway; as the empire of reason, or of truth.
4.
Any region, land or water, over which dominion is extended; as the empire of the sea.

Definition 2024

empire

empire

See also: empiré

English

Noun

empire ‎(plural empires)

  1. A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.
  2. A group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to a foreign power.
  3. A state ruled by an emperor.
  4. An expansive and wealthy corporation.
    the McDonald's fast food empire

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • empire in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • empire in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • empire at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin imperium.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃piʁ/

Noun

empire m ‎(plural empires)

  1. empire
  2. influence, authority

Related terms

Descendants

Verb

empire

  1. first-person singular present indicative of empirer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of empirer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of empirer
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of empirer
  5. second-person singular imperative of empirer

Anagrams

Italian

Etymology

From Latin implēre, present active infinitive of impleō.

Verb

empire

  1. (transitive, obsolete) to fill, to overflow

Synonyms

Related terms

Conjugation

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin imperium, inperium ‎(“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare ‎(“to command, order”), from in ‎(“in, on”) + parare ‎(“to make ready, order”).

Pronunciation

Similar Results