imperial1

[im-peer-ee-uh l] /ɪmˈpɪər i əl/
adjective
1.
of, like, or pertaining to an empire.
2.
of, like, or pertaining to an emperor or empress.
3.
characterizing the rule or authority of a sovereign state over its dependencies.
4.
of the nature or rank of an emperor or supreme ruler.
5.
of a commanding quality, manner, aspect, etc.
6.
domineering; imperious.
7.
befitting an emperor or empress; regal; majestic; very fine or grand; magnificent.
8.
of special or superior size or quality, as various products and commodities.
9.
(of weights and measures) conforming to the standards legally established in Great Britain.
noun
10.
a size of printing or drawing paper, 22 × 30 inches (56 × 76 cm) in England, 23 × 33 inches (58 × 84 cm) in America.
11.
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.
12.
imperial quarto, Chiefly British. a size of book, about 11 × 15 inches (28 × 38 cm), untrimmed.
Abbreviation: imperial 4to.
13.
the top of a carriage, especially of a diligence.
14.
a case for luggage carried there.
15.
a member of an imperial party or of imperial troops.
16.
an emperor or empress.
17.
any of various articles of special size or quality.
18.
an oversized bottle used especially for storing Bordeaux wine, equivalent to 8 regular bottles or 6 liters (6.6 quarts).
Origin
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
Related forms
imperially, adverb
imperialness, noun
Synonyms
6. despotic, high-handed, authoritarian.

imperial2

[im-peer-ee-uh l] /ɪmˈpɪər i əl/
noun
1.
a small, pointed beard beneath the lower lip.
Origin
1835-45; < French impériale, noun use of feminine of impérial imperial1

imperial3

[im-peer-ee-uh l] /ɪmˈpɪər i əl/
noun
1.
a Russian gold coin originally worth 10 rubles and from 1897 to 1917 worth 15 rubles.
Origin
1830-40; < Russian imperiál ≪ Medieval Latin imperiālis a coin, noun use of Late Latin imperiālis imperial1
Examples from the web for imperial
  • Then the global capitalist system was held together by the imperial powers.
  • That's not a particularly pretty distinction, since the latter is mostly a leftover of the country's imperial era.
  • And there's a definite whiff of imperial ambition in the air once again.
  • For centuries, the city's hulking official buildings served as reminders of the awesome power of the imperial state.
  • Nearby, hordes of tourists plod across the vast imperial plazas.
  • It was the governor's own imperial mien, after all, that will make this fall from grace particularly bruising.
  • His point was not imperial, but idealistic, even chiliastic.
  • Some were driven by martial spirit, missionary zeal or imperial fervour.
  • The imperial government was not responsible to the parliament but only to the kaiser.
  • The imperial emperor is informed that the omega device is in his possession.
British Dictionary definitions for imperial

imperial

/ɪmˈpɪərɪəl/
adjective
1.
of or relating to an empire, emperor, or empress
2.
characteristic of or befitting an emperor; majestic; commanding
3.
characteristic of or exercising supreme authority; imperious
4.
(esp of products and commodities) of a superior size or quality
5.
(usually prenominal) (of weights, measures, etc) conforming to standards or definitions legally established in Britain: an imperial gallon
noun
6.
any of various book sizes, esp 71/2 by 11 inches (imperial octavo) or (chiefly Brit) 11 by 15 inches (imperial quarto)
7.
a size of writing or printing paper, 23 by 31 inches (US and Canadian) or 22 by 30 inches (Brit)
8.
(formerly) a Russian gold coin originally worth ten roubles
9.
(US)
  1. the top of a carriage, such as a diligence
  2. a luggage case carried there
10.
(architect) a dome that has a point at the top
11.
a small tufted beard popularized by the emperor Napoleon III
12.
a member of an imperial family, esp an emperor or empress
13.
a red deer having antlers with fourteen points
Derived Forms
imperially, adverb
imperialness, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin imperiālis, from Latin imperium command, authority, empire

Imperial

/ɪmˈpɪərɪəl/
adjective
1.
(sometimes not capital) of or relating to a specified empire, such as the British Empire
noun
2.
a supporter or soldier of the Holy Roman Empire
Word Origin and History for imperial
adj.

late 14c., "having a commanding quality," from Old French imperial (12c.), from Latin imperialis "of the empire or emperor," from imperium (see empire). Meaning "pertaining to an empire" (especially the Roman) is from late 14c. Imperial presidency in a U.S. context traces to Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s book on the Nixon administration (1974). Related: Imperially.