- imperious
- imperious (adj.) 1540s, from L. imperiosus "commanding, mighty, powerful," from imperium "empire, command" (see EMPIRE (Cf. empire)). Related: Imperiously.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
imperious
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Imperious — Im*pe ri*ous, a. [L. imperiosus: cf. F. imp[ e]rieux. See {Imperial}.] 1. Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [Obs.] A vast and imperious mind. Tilloison. [1913 Webster] Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, Imperious … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
imperious — index dictatorial, disdainful, dogmatic, influential, insolent, oppressive, orgulous, peremptory (absolute … Law dictionary
imperious — domineering, *masterful, peremptory, imperative Analogous words: *dictatorial, authoritarian, magisterial: despotic, tyrannical, arbitrary, autocratic (see ABSOLUTE): lordly, overbearing (see PROUD) Antonyms: abject Contrasted words: obsequious,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
imperious — [adj] bossy, overbearing arrogant, authoritative, autocratic, commanding, compulsatory, compulsory, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, exacting, haughty, high handed, imperative, imperial, mandatory, obligatory, oppressive, overweening,… … New thesaurus
imperious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ arrogant and domineering. DERIVATIVES imperiously adverb imperiousness noun. ORIGIN Latin imperiosus, from imperium command, empire … English terms dictionary
imperious — [im pir′ē əs] adj. [L imperiosus < imperium, EMPIRE] 1. overbearing, arrogant, domineering, etc. 2. urgent; imperative SYN. MASTERFUL imperiously adv. imperiousness n … English World dictionary
imperious — imperiously, adv. imperiousness, n. /im pear ee euhs/, adj. 1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an imperious person. 2. urgent; imperative: imperious need. [1535 45; < L imperiosus commanding,… … Universalium
imperious — [[t]ɪmpɪ͟əriəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as imperious, you mean that they have a proud manner and expect to be obeyed. [WRITTEN] Her attitude may be imperious at times but that is more than compensated by her bravery... From across… … English dictionary
imperious — adjective Etymology: Latin imperiosus, from imperium Date: 1540 1. a. befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments ; commanding, dominant < an imperious manner > b. marked by arrogant assurance ; domineering … New Collegiate Dictionary
imperious — adjective /ɪmˈpɪəriəs,ɪmˈpɪriəs/ a) Domineering, arrogant, or overbearing. ...she glanced about her in an imperious, challenging sort of way, with looks and gestures that clearly were unstudied. b) Urgent. Circumstances of an imperious nature,… … Wiktionary
