n.
Pronunciation: im- ' pir- ē - ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin imperialis, from Latin imperium command, empire
Date: 14th century
1 a : of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor b (1) : of or relating to the United Kingdom as distinguished from the constituent parts (2) : of or relating to the Commonwealth of Nations and British Empire
2 a : SOVEREIGN b : REGAL , IMPERIOUS
3 : of superior or unusual size or excellence
4 : belonging to the official British series of weights and measures ― see WEIGHT table
– im · pe · ri · al · ly \ - ə -l ē \ adverb