FromMiddle Englishemperie, fromOld Frenchemperie, fromLatinimperium,inperium(“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), fromimperare,inperare(“to command, order”), fromin(“in, on”) +parare(“to make ready, order”).Doublet ofimperium andempire.
- IPA(key): /ˈɛm.pə.ɹɪ/,/ˈɛm.pɹɪ/
empery (pluralemperies)
- (now rare) Anempire; the status or dominion of anemperor.[from 14th c.]
c.1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe],Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published1592,→OCLC; reprinted asTamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press,1973,→ISBN,Act II, scene vi:Let’s cheere our ſouldiers to incounter him,
That grieuous image of ingratitude:
That fiery thirſter after Soueraigntie:
And burne him in the fury of that flame,
That none can quench but blood andEmpery.
1604,Edward Coke, “To the Reader”, inThe Fourth Part of the Reports of Sir Edward Coke, Kt.:Secondly, the Largeneſs of hisEmpery, and the firſt Conquest of Ireland, long before the Reign of K. Hen. the Second.
1661, John Donne,To his Mistress going to Bed:My Myne of precious stones: MyEmperie, / How blest am I in this discovering thee!
1930,Hart Crane, “Ave Maria”, inThe Bridge:It is morning there / O where our Indianemperies lie revealed, / Yet lost, all, let this keel one instant yield!
- (archaic) Absolute power or authority.[from 16th c.]
1833, Elizabeth Barrett Browning,Prometheus Bound:Because he filched away
Thine own bright flower, the glory of plastic fire,
And gifted mortals with it, — such a sin
It doth behoove he expiate to the gods,
Learning to accept theempery of Zeus,
And leave off his old trick of loving man.
