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IMPERIAL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A piece of luggage carried on top of a coach
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("imperial" is a kind of...):
baggage; luggage (cases used to carry belongings when traveling)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A small tufted beard worn by Emperor Napoleon III
Synonyms:
imperial; imperial beard
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("imperial" is a kind of...):
beard; face fungus; whiskers (the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
Example:
the royal carriage of a stag's head
Synonyms:
imperial; majestic; purple; regal; royal
Classified under:
Similar:
noble (of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times)
Derivation:
emperor (the male ruler of an empire)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Befitting or belonging to an emperor or empress
Example:
imperial palace
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
emperor (the male ruler of an empire)
Derivation:
empire (the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Relating to or associated with an empire
Example:
the imperial gallon was standardized legally throughout the British Empire
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
empire (a monarchy with an emperor as head of state)
Derivation:
empire (a monarchy with an emperor as head of state)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights and measures
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
British Imperial System (a system of weights and measures based on the foot and pound and second and pint)
Context examples:
But I defy the treasurer, or his two informers (I will name them, and let them make the best of it) Clustril and Drunlo, to prove that any person ever came to me incognito, except the secretary Reldresal, who was sent by express command of his imperial majesty, as I have before related.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
When I was just preparing to pay my attendance on the emperor of Blefuscu, a considerable person at court (to whom I had been very serviceable, at a time when he lay under the highest displeasure of his imperial majesty) came to my house very privately at night, in a close chair, and, without sending his name, desired admittance.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
But hurried on by the precipitancy of youth, and having his imperial majesty’s license to pay my attendance upon the emperor of Blefuscu, I took this opportunity, before the three days were elapsed, to send a letter to my friend the secretary, signifying my resolution of setting out that morning for Blefuscu, pursuant to the leave I had got; and, without waiting for an answer, I went to that side of the island where our fleet lay.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
Whereupon, I returned immediately towards the city, and desired his imperial majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest vessels he had left, after the loss of his fleet, and three thousand seamen, under the command of his vice-admiral.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
As the news of my arrival spread through the kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and curious people to see me; so that the villages were almost emptied; and great neglect of tillage and household affairs must have ensued, if his imperial majesty had not provided, by several proclamations and orders of state, against this inconveniency.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
However, they have now equipped a numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make a descent upon us; and his imperial majesty, placing great confidence in your valour and strength, has commanded me to lay this account of his affairs before you.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
I fell on my knees, and begged the honour of kissing her imperial foot; but this gracious princess held out her little finger towards me, after I was set on the table, which I embraced in both my arms, and put the tip of it with the utmost respect to my lip.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
5th, If an express requires extraordinary despatch, the man-mountain shall be obliged to carry, in his pocket, the messenger and horse a six days journey, once in every moon, and return the said messenger back (if so required) safe to our imperial presence.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
But I was afterward given privately to understand, that his imperial majesty, never imagining I had the least notice of his designs, believed I was only gone to Blefuscu in performance of my promise, according to the license he had given me, which was well known at our court, and would return in a few days, when the ceremony was ended.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
We apprehend his imperial highness, the heir to the crown, to have some tendency towards the high heels; at least we can plainly discover that one of his heels is higher than the other, which gives him a hobble in his gait.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
