Imperious definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

authoritarian, bossy, dogmatic, domineering, magisterial, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, arrogant, authoritative, commanding, despotic

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Imperious - 5 dictionary results

im⋅pe⋅ri⋅ous

[im-peer-ee-uh

–adjective

1.	domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an imperious person.

2.	urgent; imperative: imperious need.

Origin:
1535–45; < L imperiōsus commanding, tyrannical, equiv. to imperi(um) imperium + -ōsus -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Imperious

Spanish:

imperioso,

German:

herrisch,

Japanese:

おうへいな

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im·pe·ri·ous (ĭm-pîr'ē-əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Arrogantly domineering or overbearing. See Synonyms at dictatorial.
Urgent; pressing.
Obsolete Regal; imperial.

[From Latin imperiōsus, from imperium, imperium; see empire.]
im·pe'ri·ous·ly adv., im·pe'ri·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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imperious

1541, from L. imperiosus "commanding, mighty, powerful," from imperium "empire, command" (see empire).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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imperious
adjective
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; "some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines"; "haughty aristocrats"; "his lordly manners were offensive"; "walked with a prideful swagger"; "very sniffy about breaches of etiquette"; "his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air"; "a more swaggering mood than usual"- W.L.Shirer [syn: disdainful]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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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.

Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, Imperious. --Shak.

2. Haughly; arrogant; overbearing; as, an imperious tyrant; an imperious manner.

This imperious man will work us all From princes into pages. --Shak.

His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. --Macaulay.

3. Imperative; urgent; compelling.

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 other feel their inferiority.

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