principate
Syllabification: (prin·ci·pate)
Pronunciation: /ˈprinsəˌpāt, -pət/
Definition of principate
noun
Origin:
late Middle English (denoting a principality): from Latin principatus 'first place', from princeps, princip- 'first, chief' (see prince). The sense 'rule of the emperors' dates from the mid 19th century