noun · neutersecond declension
imperium
imperium n (genitive imperiī or imperī)
Classical[ɪmˈpɛ.ri.ũː]Ecclesiastical[imˈpɛː.ri.um]
№ 200 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- neuterThe empire, state, imperial government, realm, dominion.
imperium sine fīne dedī
“I have granted them empire without end.” (The poetic voice is that of Jupiter speaking about the Romans.)29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.279“quō postquam ventum est, ‘cōnsistitē!’ praescia māter
“After he had arrived there, his prophetic mother said, ‘Halt!, for that countryside will be the place of empire.’” (The muse Calliope tells what the prophetess Carmenta said to Carmenta’s son, Evander of Pallantium, after his arrival in Italy.)8 CE, Ovidius, Fasti 5.95–96 - neuterThe right or power to command or be in control; dominion.
- neuterAbsolute command or authority over the empire (or other polity); sovereignty; sway.
hanc fās imperiī frēna tenēre domum
It is divine will that this house should hold the reins of empire.8 CE, Ovidius, Fasti 1.532 - neuterMilitary authority, the command (of an army).
Q. Fuluio Ap. Claudio, prioris anni consulibus, prorogatum imperium est atque exercitus quos habebant decreti, adiectumque ne a Capua quam obsidebant abscederent priusquam expugnassent.
The military authority of Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius, consuls of the previous year, was extended and the armies which they had were decided upon, and it was added as a proviso that they should not withdraw from Capua, which they were besieging, until they conquered it.27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita 26.1 - neuterThe exercise of authority, rule, law, control, sovereignty.
Imperium se ab Caesare per proditionem nullum desiderare
He desired no sovereignty from Caesar by treacheryc. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico VII.20 - neuterA command, order, direction, bidding.
Ūnō imperiō ōstiātim tōtum oppidum compīlāvit.
He plundered the whole city, house by house, by one command.
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
potestās imperandī; imperium Rōmānum = omnēs terrae quibus Rōma imperat.imperium -ī n — in Mille Verba, Bellum et Arma
empire
imperium -ī — in Viri Romae Facillimi, ch. 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | imperium | imperia |
| genitive | imperiī imperī | imperiōrum |
| dative | imperiō | imperiīs |
| accusative | imperium | imperia |
| ablative | imperiō | imperiīs |
| vocative | imperium | imperia |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- in imperio esse
- to hold a high office (such as conferred imperium, i.e. consulatus, dictatura, praetura).
- cum imperio esse
- to hold a high command.
- imperium obtinere
- to maintain power, authority.
- imperium singulare
- absolute power; autocracy.
- imperii summae praeesse
- to be commander-in-chief.
- abrogare alicui imperium
- to deprive a person of his position as commandant.
- qui imperio subiecti sunt
- subjects.
- imperium in annum prorogare
- to prolong the command for a year.
23 more phrases
- imperium tenere (in aliquem)
- to have power over some one.
- cum imperio esse (cf. XVI. 3)
- to have unlimited power; to be invested with imperium.
- imperium oppugnare, percellere
- to attack, overthrow a tyranny.
- imperium deponere (Rep. 2. 12. 23)
- to lay down one's power.
- multitudinis dominatus or imperium
- government by the mob.
- imperii summam tenere (Rep. 2. 28)
- to be commander-in-chief.
- prorogare alicui imperium (in annum)
- to prolong a person's command.
- sub imperio et dicione alicuius esse
- to be subject to some one, under some one's dominion.
- summa belli, imperii (B. G. 2. 4. 7)
- the command-in-chief.
- imperium alicui abrogare (Off.3. 10)
- to depose a person from his command.
- imperium, rerum summam deferre alicui
- to confer supreme power on a person.
- imperium, regnum, tyrannidem occupare
- to take upon oneself absolute power.
- magistratus et imperia (Sall. Iug. 3. 1)
- civil and military offices.
- se imperio alicuius subicere (not alicui)
- to make one's submission to some one.
- imperium orbis terrarum terminis definitur
- the empire reaches to the ends of the world.
- imperium transfertur ad aliquem (not transit)
- the command is transferred, passes to some one.
- imperium singulare, unius dominatus, regium imperium
- monarchy.
- fines (imperii) propagare, extendere, (longius) proferre
- to enlarge the boundaries of a kingdom.
- severum imperium in suis exercere, tenere (De Sen. 11. 37)
- to be a strict disciplinarian in one's household.
- imperii summam deferre alicui or ad aliquem, tradere alicui
- to appoint some one commander-in-chief.
- imperium populi or populare, civitas or res publica popularis
- democracy.
- populum, terram suo imperio, suae potestati subicere (not sibi by itself)
- to make oneself master of a people, country.
impĕrĭum (inp-), ĭi, n. impero,
I. a command, order, direction.
I. Lit. (mostly ante-class. and post-Aug.): si quid opus est, impera: imperium exsequar. Plaut. Am. 3, 3, 1; cf.:
nunc pergam eri imperium exsequi, id. ib. 1, 1, 106: eri imperia persequi, id. ib. 2, 1, 75: imperium exsequi, id. Men. 5, 6, 16; Ter. Eun. 4, 1, 22: obsequens obediensque est mori atque imperiis patris, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 3, 55; cf. id. Trin. 2, 2, 21; id. Men. 5, 7, 1: tuo facit jussu, tuo imperio paret, id. As. 1, 2, 21: malus et nequam est homo, qui nihili imperium eri Sui servus facit, id. Ps. 4, 7, 1; cf. id. As. 2, 4, 10: quod hi neque ad concilia veniebant neque imperio parebant, Caes. B. G. 5, 2 fin.: imperium neglegere, id. ib. 5, 7, 7: neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant, id. ib. 2, 22 fin.: imperio Jovis huc venio, Verg. A. 5, 726; cf.: et Jovis imperium et cari praecepta parentis Edocet, id. ib. 5, 747: imperiis deūm propalam expositis, Liv. 8, 6, 12: quidam (pueri) imperia indignantur, Quint. 1, 3, 6: aegri quoquo neglecto medentium imperio, etc., Plin. Pan. 22, 3: elephanti inest imperiorum obedientia, Plin. 8, 1, 1, § 1: naturae imperio gemimus, cum, etc., Juv. 15, 138: cujus paruit imperiis, id. 14, 331.II. Transf., the right or power of commanding, authority, command, control (freq. and class.).
A. In gen.: Mes. Nempe jubes? Me. Jubeo hercle, si quid imperii est in te mihi, Plaut. Men. 5, 7, 41; cf. id. Pers. 3, 1, 15:
Appius et caecus et senex tenebat non modo auctoritatem sed etiam imperium in suos, Cic. de Sen. 11, 37: reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis, Hor. C. 3, 1, 6: eone es ferox, quia habes imperium in beluas? Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 25: mater, cujus sub imperio'st, mala, id. Heaut. 2, 2, 4: An. Sta ilico. Ge. Hem, sates pro imperio! quisquis es, i. e. authorilatively, imperiously, id. Phorm. 1, 4, 19: domesticum, Cic. Caecin. 18, 52; id. Inv. 2, 47, 140: (Juppiter) Divosque mortalesque turbas Imperio regit unus aequo, Hor. C. 3, 4, 48; cf.: sed me jussa deūm ... Imperiis egere suis, Verg. A. 6, 463: Phyllius illic Imperio pueri volucresque ferumque leonem Tradiderat domitos, Ov. M. 7, 373: agricolae habent rationem cum terra, quae numquam recusat imperium, Cic. de Sen. 15, 51.—B. In partic.
1. In publicists' lang., supreme power, sovereignty, sway, dominion, empire (cf.: principatus, dominatus, regnum; potestas, potentia).
(a). Sing.: Tarquinio dedit imperium simul et sola regni, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 298 Müll. (Ann. v. 151 Vahl.); cf.:
navorum imperium servare est induperantum, id. ib. 169 Müll. (Ann. v. 413 Vahl.); and: ipse (Numa rex) de suo imperio curiatam legem tulit, Cic. Rep. 2, 13; 2, 17; 18; 20; 21: homo dominandi cupidus aut imperii singularis, sole dominion, id. ib. 1, 33: singulare et potestas regia, id. ib. 2, 9: esse consul cum summo imperio et potestate, Cic. Verr. 1, 13, 37; id. Fl. 8, 18; cf.: cum summo imperio et potestate versari, id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 10, 31: qui (App. Claudius) tum erat summo imperio, id. Fin. 2, 20, 66: omne imperium nostri penes singulos esse voluerunt, id. Rep. 1, 40; 2, 32: de imperio Caesaris ... gravissime decernitur, Caes. B. C. 1, 5, 4: imperium extra ordinem dare, Cic. Phil. 11, 10, 25: quod imperium potest esse praestantius quam, etc., id. Rep. 1, 17: eos qui antea commodis fuerint moribus, imperio, potestate, prosperis rebus immutari, id. Lael. 15, 54: ad deponendum imperium tardior esse, id. Rep. 2, 12: expertes imperii, id. ib. 1, 31: deponentium imperium tyrannorum, Quint. 9, 2, 67 et saep.: sub populi Romani imperium dicionemque cadere, Cic. Font. 1, 2; so, with dicio, Caes. B. G. 1, 31, 7; cf.: Gallia sub populi Romani imperium redacta, id. ib. 5, 29, 4: totam ad imperium populi Romani Ciliciam adjunxit, Cic. de Imp. Pomp. 12, 35: majestas est in imperio atque in omni populi Romani dignitate, Quint. 7, 3, 35: cum duobus ducibus de imperio in Italia decertatum est, Pyrrho et Hannibale, Cic. Lael. 8, 28; cf.: de imperio dimicare, id. Off. 1, 12, 38: spes diuturnitatis atque imperii, id. Rep. 2, 3; cf.: sedem et domum summo imperio praebere, id. ib. 2, 5 fin.: quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset, Caes. B. G. 1, 3, 6: civitati imperium totius provinciae pollicetur, id. ib. 7, 64 fin.: cum abunde expertus esset quam bene umeris tuis sederet imperium, Plin. Pan. 10 fin.: auctoritate magis quam imperio regere, Liv. 1, 7, 8; cf.: nec illum pro imperio submovere posse ... quia ita dicatur: si vobis videtur, discedite, Quirites, id. 2, 56, 12.—(b). Plur.:
nec vero imperia expetenda ac potius aut non accipienda interdum aut deponenda nonnumquam, i. e. public offices, Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68: (cives) mandant imperia, id. Rep. 1, 31; cf.: honores, magistratus, imperia, potestates, opes amicitiae anteponere, id. Lael. 17, 63: cui (duci) dantur imperia et ea continuantur, etc., id. Rep. 1, 44: ita cepi et gessi maxima imperia, ut, etc., id. Fam. 3, 7, 5: vides tyranni satellites in imperiis, id. Att. 14, 5, 2: quod praestare dicant Gallorum quam Romanorum imperia perferre, dominion, government, Caes. B. G. 1, 17, 3: qui mobilitate ac levitate animi novis imperiis studebant, id. ib. 2, 1, 3: imperia legum potentiora quam hominum, Liv. 2, 1, 1. — b. Hence, transf., concr.
(a). Dominion, realm, empire (esp. freq. since the Aug. per.):
duae urbes inimicissimae huic imperio, Cic. Lael. 3, 11: jam ipsa terra ita mihi parva visa est, ut me imperii nostri pæniteret, id. Rep. 6, 16 fin.: nostrum, id. ib. 3, 29; cf.: finium imperii nostri propagatio, id. Prov. Cons. 12, 29: fines imperii propagavit, id. Rep. 3, 12: imperium Oceano, famam qui terminet astris, Verg. A. 1, 287: per quas (artes) imperi Porrecta majestas ad ortus Solis ab Hesperio cubili, Hor. C. 4, 15, 14: adjectis Britannis Imperio, id. ib. 3, 5, 4: quem vocet divum populus ruentis Imperi rebus? id. ib. 1, 2, 26; 1, 37, 8: immensum imperii corpus stare ac librari sine rectore non potest, Tac. H. 1, 16: reges socii, membra partesque imperii, Suet. Aug. 48: breviarium totius imperii, id. ib. 101: rationarium imperii, id. ib. 28: imperii fines Tiberinum natare, Juv. 8, 265: noverat luxuriam imperii veterem, i. e. of the Roman court, id. 4, 137.—c. Trop., rule, control (very rare but class.):
illud vide, si in animis hominum regale imperium sit, unius fore dominatum, consilii scilicet, Cic. Rep. 1, 38.—Iron.: imperium judiciorum tenere, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 31, § 77: coactae imperio sexus, i. e. the ambition, Juv. 6, 135.— 2. Law t. t., the jurisdiction or discretion of a magistrate:
omnia autem judicia aut legitimo jure consistunt aut imperio continentur, Gai. Inst. 4, 103: ideo autem imperio contineri judicia dicuntur, quia tamdiu valent, quamdiu is qui ea praecepit imperium habet, id. ib. 4, 105; cf. 3, 181 al.— 3. Milit., the chief command, command.
(a). Sing.:
victum atque expugnatum oppidum est Imperio atque auspicio Amphitruonis maxime, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 37; 1, 1, 41: re impetrata contendunt, ut ipsis summa imperii transdatur, Caes. B. G. 7, 63, 5: delatam sibi summam imperii, Suet. Ner. 3: censet enim etiam ex iis, qui cum imperio sint, Cic. Fam. 1, 1, 3: nostri imperii dignitas, id. ib. 1, 7, 4: novem annis, quibus in imperio fuit, Suet. Caes. 25: legionum curam et imperium alicui demandare, id. ib. 76: alicui imperium prorogare, id. Tib. 30: imperii tempus explere, id. Caes. 26: cum imperio aut magistratu, i. e. a military or civil command, Suet. Tib. 12: qui dabat olim imperium, fasces, etc., Juv. 10, 79; cf. in the foll.—(b). Plur.:
mandant (cives) imperia, magistratus, i. e. military and civil commands, Cic. Rep. 1, 31; cf.: magistratus, imperia, amicitiae anteponere, id. Lael. 17, 63; so opp. magistratus, Suet. Caes. 54; 75; id. Aug. 61.— b. Transf.
(a). Concr.: imperia, i. q. imperatores, commanding officers, commanders, generals:
imperia, potestates, legationes, quom senatus creverit populusve jusserit, ex urbe exeunto, Cic. Leg. 3, 3, 9: nacti vacuas ab imperiis Sardiniam et Siciliam, Caes. B. C. 1, 31, 1; Val. Max. 1, 1, 9.—(b). Erat plena lictorum et imperiorum provincia, differta praefectis atque exactoribus, Caes. B. C. 3, 32, 4.—
(g). (Acc. to imperator, II. B. 3.) The imperial government, the government:
tandem quasi coactus recepit imperium, Suet. Tib. 24; 55; 67; id. Calig. 12; 16; 24; id. Claud. 11; 35; 36 et saep.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
imperium (inp-) ī, n
impero, a command, order, direction, injunction: meum Inperium exequi, T.: imperio parere, Cs.: Iovis, V.: imperiis deūm expositis, L.: Naturae imperio gemimus, cum, etc., Iu.—Command, authority, control, power, ascendency, sway: mitto imperium, T.: tenere imperium in suos: Reges in ipsos imperium est Iovis, H.: mater, quoius sub imperiost, mala, T.: pro imperio submovere, arbitrarily, L.: domesticum: arcesse, aut imperium fer, give the order yourself, H.: imperio pueri leonem tradere, O.: Di, quibus imperium est animarum, V.: rerum imperiis hominumque minor, subject to, H.—Supreme power, sovereignty, sway, dominion, empire, supremacy, authority: regium, S.: cupidus imperi singularis, sole dominion: Caesaris, Cs.: imperium extra ordinem dare: sub populi R. imperium dicionemque cadere: Imperium Dido regit, V.: de imperio dimicare: civitati imperium totius provinciae pollicetur, Cs.: auctoritate magis quam imperio regere, L.: Romanorum imperia perferre, dominion, Cs.: imperia legum potentiora quam hominum, L.: gravidam imperiis Italiam regere, sovereignties, V. —A public office, magistracy: cuius (consulis) in imperio, term: nec imperia expetenda: gessi maxima imperia.—Command-in-chief, supreme command, military authority: cum imperio esse: unum imperium cum ipsis habere, be under the same military head, Cs.: mercatorem cum imperio ac securibus misimus.—A dominion, realm, empire: urbes inimicissimae huic imperio: contra imperium populi R. pugnare, Cs.: Imperium Oceano qui terminet, V.: auspicia imperi Romani, Ta.: luxuria imperii, i. e. of the court, Iu.—Of persons, an authority, officer, general: sine imperio copias relinquere, Cs.: imperia et potestates, military and civil authorities: Erat plena lictorum et imperiorum provincia, Cs.—Fig., rule, control: vide, si in animis hominum regale imperium sit: coactae Imperio sexūs, i. e. ambition, Iu.
Origins
From imperō (“command, order”) + -ium, from im- (form of in) + parō (“prepare, arrange; intend”).
Descendants
- Catalanimperifrom Old Catalan emperi
- Englishempirefrom Old French empire
- Englishemperyfrom Old French empire
- Frenchempirefrom Old French empire
- Italianimpero
- Occitanempèri
- Englishimperium
- Portugueseimpériofrom Old Galician-Portuguese emperio
- GermanImperium
- Italianimperio