■ adjective
1》 relating to an empire or an emperor.
↘characteristic of an emperor; magnificent.
2》 relating to or denoting the system of non-metric weights and measures formerly used for all measures in the UK, and still used for some.
3》 chiefly historical (of a size of paper) measuring (in the UK) 762 × 559 mm (30 × 22 inches).
■ noun a small pointed beard growing below the lower lip (associated with Napoleon III of France).
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. ~is , from imperium 'command, empire'; related to imperare 'to command'.