imperatrix

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪm.pɛˈraː.triːks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [im.peˈraː.triks]^[1]

Forms

imperātrīx f (genitive imperātrīcis, masculine imperātor); third declension^[1] It is also spelled inperātrīx.^[2]

Etymology

It is from imperō “to command” with the feminine agent suffix -trīx, the feminine of imperātor.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it ironically of Clodia, as a female general.^[2][3][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant a woman who commands, a female general, ironically.^[2][3] Lewis & Short call it very rare.^[3]

In Late Latin it meant an empress, and British Medieval Latin used it for the wife or widow of an emperor, of the Eastern and of the Holy Roman Empire.^[6] Through Old French emperesse and Anglo-Norman emperice it gave English empress in the mid-12th century.^[1][7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of Clodia.^[2][5]
• mid-12th century – English empress is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A woman who commands, a female general.^[2]
2. (Late Latin) An empress.^[6]

Related words

• imperātor
• imperō
• imperium
• English empress

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com