I. ˈsäv(ə)rən, -vərn sometimes ˈsəv- noun
also sov·ran ˈsävrən
( -s )
Etymology: sovereign alteration (influenced by reign ) (I) of Middle English soverein, soverain, from Old French soverain, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin superanus, from Latin super over, above + -anus -an; sovran alteration (influenced by Italian sovrano sovereign, from Old Italian, from Old French soverain ) of sovereign — more at super-
1.
a.
(1) : the supreme repository of power in a political state
the sovereign … is not himself bound by the law since the law is what he declares it to be — J.H.Hallowell
(2) : the person wielding or exercising supreme political power in a political state — compare dictator , monarch , ruler
(3) : a political unit possessing or held to possess sovereignty
a controversy between two sovereigns … the United States on the one hand and the state of California on the other — U.S. Code
b. : one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere : chief , master
c. : an acknowledged leader : arbiter , superior
cupid … the anointed sovereign of sighs and groans — Shakespeare
the true sovereigns of a country are those who determine … its modes of thinking — Van Wyck Brooks
the rose, sovereign among flowers
2.
a. : a gold coin of Great Britain worth 1 pound sterling or 20 shillings, issued from Henry VII to James I and as a coin having 123.274 grains of gold .9166 fine from George III
b. : a gold coin of Saudi Arabia equivalent to 40 riyals
II. adjective
also sovran “
Etymology: sovereign alteration (influenced by reign ) (I) of Middle English soverein, soverain, from Middle French sovrain, from Old French, from sovrain, n., sovereign; sovran alteration (influenced by Italian sovrano ) of sovereign
1.
a. : possessed of controlling power : ruling , predominant
the king could not be sovereign if there were any immunities … outside his jurisdiction — Christopher Morris
in the case of Palestine, the United Nations, for a brief period of history, was able to act as a sovereign agent — A.S.Eban
b. : unlimited in extent : absolute
the sovereign power of the pope over all forms of secular authority — G.H.Sabine
c. : enjoying autonomy : independent , self-governing
a sovereign state
a move to unify command of the separate and sovereign armed services
the right of each individual to be a sovereign personality — Geoffrey Bruun
2.
a. : of the most exalted kind : supreme
in … literary style the sovereign virtue for the judge is clearness — B.N.Cardozo
promote … the sovereign good of the community — George Grote
b. : superlative in quality : excellent , unsurpassed
their sovereign sense of humor, never minding the joke that is turned against themselves — Sir Winston Churchill
the veneration and respect due a sovereign creative genius — Roland Gelatt
c.
(1) : having generalized curative powers : potent
diphtheria antitoxin is a specific and sovereign remedy when given in sufficient amounts during the first 24 hours — K.F.Maxcy
(2) : having universally beneficial application : effective
special facets of past human culture remain potentially sovereign for our current ills — H.H.Watts
d. : of an unqualified nature : unmitigated , utter
kissed the feet of their conquerors, but in sovereign contempt — Vincent Sheean
e. : having undisputed ascendancy : leading , paramount
in recasting the … old theology, Calvin accepted as a sovereign conception the idea of God as arbitrary and absolute will — V.L.Parrington
3. : of, relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a sovereign : royal , unrestricted
a sovereign right
sovereign equality
Synonyms: see dominant , free