Imperious

Imperious
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. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Haughly; arrogant; overbearing; as, an imperious tyrant; an imperious manner. [1913 Webster]

This imperious man will work us all From princes into pages. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. Imperative; urgent; compelling. [1913 Webster]

Imperious need, which can not be withstood. --Dryden.

Syn: Dictatorial; haughty; domineering; overbearing; lordly; tyrannical; despotic; arrogant; imperative; authoritative; commanding; pressing.

Usage: {Imperious}, {Lordly}, {Domineering}. One who is imperious exercises his authority in a manner highly offensive for its spirit and tone; one who is lordly assumes a lofty air in order to display his importance; one who is domineering gives orders in a way to make others feel their inferiority. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • imperious — index dictatorial, disdainful, dogmatic, influential, insolent, oppressive, orgulous, peremptory (absolute …   Law dictionary

  • imperious — (adj.) 1540s, from L. imperiosus commanding, mighty, powerful, from imperium empire, command (see EMPIRE (Cf. empire)). Related: Imperiously …   Etymology 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

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