empire

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
  2. noun a group of countries under a single authority
  3. noun a monarchy with an emperor as head of state

Etymology

From Middle English empire, from Old French empire, empere, from Latin imperium, inperium (“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare (“to command, order”), from in (“in, on”) + parare (“to make ready, order”). Doublet of empery and imperium.

In classic literature

Synonyms

imperium

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