imperial English · revision 6360

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la impero}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪmˈpɪə.ɹi.əl/ ''(UK)''; /ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English imperial, emperial, [[bor|fro|imperial|alt=imperial, emperial]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|imperiālis|t=of the empire or emperor]], from [[m|la|imperium|t=command, empire]] (see [[empire]]), from [[m|la|impero|alt=imperāre|t=to command]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of an empire or emperor: about 1380, in Chaucer's translation of Boethius;^(Barnhart 1988) having a commanding quality, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of England, asserting its independence of any foreign power, it is from 1532–33,^(OED 1989) and of the British Empire as a whole from 1774.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of imposing size or excellence is from 1731.^(Etymonline) Belonging to the British non-metric system of weights and measures, as the imperial gallon, is from the 19th century.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The noun meant a member of the emperor's party (1520s), a gold coin (1670s), and a small pointed beard like that of Napoleon III.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The ''imperial presidency'' is traced to Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s book of 1974.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – of an empire.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1532 – of independent England.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1731 – of imposing size.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1774 – of the British Empire.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1974 – imperial presidency.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to an [[empire]] or an emperor.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Majestic or [[commanding]]; befitting an emperor.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British)'' Of the traditional non-metric system of measures: ''an imperial gallon''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small pointed beard on the lower lip and chin.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imperially]]

+ * [[imperialness]]

+ * [[interimperial]]

+ * [[nonimperial]]

+ * [[postimperial]]

+ * [[preimperial]]

+ * [[unimperial]]

+ * [[imperialism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[emperor]]

+ * [[empire]]

+ * [[empress]]

+ * [[imperious]]

+ * [[imperative]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}