I. (ˈ)im|pirēəl, əmˈp-, -pēr- adjective
Etymology: Middle English emperial, imperial, from Middle French, from Late Latin imperialis, from Latin imperium command, supreme authority, empire + -alis -al — more at empire
1.
a. : of or relating to an empire or an emperor especially of a particular or implicit empire
the national poet of the empire, in whom imperial patriotism found its highest expression — James Bryce
imperial Caesar
his view was imperial rather than provincial — Carl Bridenbaugh
b. : of, relating to, or befitting supreme authority or one that exercises it : of the rank of or suitable to an emperor or supreme ruler : royal , sovereign
c. : of or relating to a state as governing or being supreme over colonies, dependencies, or many subdivisions ; specifically usually capitalized : of or relating to Britain as such a state
make an essential contribution … to New Zealand and Imperial history — Notes & Queries
British Imperial communications — British Book News
d. : haughty , regal , commanding , imperious
stood there, tall, broad, imperial — Donn Byrne
the rigid, imperial hyacinth — Rebecca West
humoring us with her fatigued imperial smiles — Arnold Bennett
2.
a. : of superior or unusual size or excellence
a rich man living on an imperial diet
grow from the little old town of the nineties to the imperial city that stands there now — W.A.White
a homicidal mania on an imperial scale — Ellery Sedgwick
b. : of fancy quality — used as a designation for various commercial products
c. : self-aggrandizing , grandiose
thoughts that were partly dreams … imperial , childish dreams — Audrey L. Barker
3. of a measure or weight : being the British legal standard : belonging to the official British series of weights and measures
the imperial gallon
• im·pe·ri·al·ly -ēəlē, -li adverb
• im·pe·ri·al·ness -ēəlnə̇s noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a medieval silk and gold fabric of oriental origin
2. usually capitalized
[Russ. probably from Polish imperjał, a kind of coin, from Medieval Latin imperialis, a medieval coin, from Late Latin imperialis, adjective, imperial]
: an adherent of the Holy Roman emperor or a soldier of his troops : imperialist
3. : a person of imperial rank : emperor , empress
4. : a size of paper usually 23 × 31, 22 1/2 × 29, or 22 × 30 inches
5. : a game similar to piquet but having a trump ; also : any of several scoring combinations in the game
6.
a. : a luggage case for the top of a coach
b. : the top, roof, or second-story compartment of a coach or carriage, especially a diligence
7. : a gold coin of imperial Russia worth 10 rubles when first issued in 1745 and 15 rubles from 1897-1917
8.
[French impériale, from feminine of impérial imperial, from Late Latin imperialis; from the beard worn as a young man by Napoleon III died 1873 emperor of France]
: a pointed beard growing below the lower lip
9. : something of unusual size or excellence
10. : a dark reddish purple that is lighter and stronger than average plum (sense 6a), bluer and stronger than violet carmine or average grape wine, and bluer and deeper than royal purple (sense 1) — called also Cotinga purple