imperious

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Latin imperiōsus (“‘mighty, powerful’”) < imperium (“‘command, authority, power’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ɪmˈpɪəriəs/
• (US) IPA: /ɪmˈpɪriəs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɪəriəs

[edit] Adjective

imperious (not comparable)

1. Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing.
   • 1866 - Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Gambler, translated by C. J. Hogarth

     ...she glanced about her in an imperious, challenging sort of way, with looks and gestures that clearly were unstudied.

2. Urgent.
   • 1891 - Ambrose Bierce, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

     Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with that gallant army which had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth.

3. (obsolete) Imperial or regal.
   • 1895 - Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage

     She was quick, beautiful, imperious, while he was quiet, slow, and misty.

[edit] Synonyms

• (domineering): authoritarian, bossy, dictatorial, domineering, overbearing

[edit] Related terms

• imperial
• imperialism
• imperialistic
• imperially
• imperialness
• imperium

[edit] Translations