Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Imperious

Im-pe′ri-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
imperiosus
: cf. F.
impérieux
. See
Imperial
.]
1.
Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic.
[Obs.]
“A vast and imperious mind.”
Tilloison.
Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,
Imperious
.
Shakespeare
2.
Haughly; arrogant; overbearing;
as, an
imperious
tyrant; an
imperious
manner.
This
imperious
man will work us all
From princes into pages.
Shakespeare
His bold, contemptuous, and
imperious
spirit soon made him conspicuous.
Macaulay.
3.
Imperative; urgent; compelling.
Syn. – Dictatorial; haughty; domineering; overbearing; lordly; tyrannical; despotic; arrogant; imperative; authoritative; commanding; pressing.
Imperious
,
Lordly
,
Domineering
. One who is imperious exercises his authority in a manner highly offensive for its spirit and tone; one who is lordly assumes a lofty air in order to display his importance; one who is domineering gives orders in a way to make others feel their inferiority.

Webster 1828 Edition


Imperious

IMPE'RIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. imperiosus.]
1.
Commanding; dictatorial; haughty; arrogant; overbearing; domineering; as an imperious tyrant; an imperious dictator; an imperious man; an imperious temper.
2.
Commanding; indicating an imperious temper; authoritative; as imperious words.
3.
Powerful; overbearing; not to be opposed by obstacles; as a man of a vast and imperious mind.
4.
Commanding; urgent; pressing; as imperious love; imperious circumstances; imperious appetite.
5.
Authoritative; commanding with rightful authority.
The commandment high and imperious in its claims.

Definition 2024


imperious

imperious

English

Adjective

imperious (not comparable)

  1. Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing.
    • 1866Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Gambler, translated by C. J. Hogarth
      ...she glanced about her in an imperious, challenging sort of way, with looks and gestures that clearly were unstudied.
  2. Urgent.
    • 1891Ambrose Bierce, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
      Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with that gallant army which had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth.
  3. (obsolete) Imperial or regal.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations