emperor

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛmp(ə)rə/

noun

  • 1a sovereign ruler of an empire.
  • 2an orange and brown North American butterfly with a swift dodging flight, breeding chiefly on hackberries.
    • Genus Asterocampa, subfamily Apaturinae, family Nymphalidae: several species, in particular the tawny emperor (A. clyton). See also purple emperor

Derivatives

emperorship

noun

Origin:

Middle English (especially representing the title given to the head of the Roman Empire): from Old French emperere, from Latin imperator 'military commander', from imperare 'to command', from in- 'towards' + parare 'prepare, contrive'