imperator meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

imperator

nounalso spelled Imperator

US /ˌɪmpəˈreɪtəɹ/

Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin imperātor. By surface analysis, imperate + -or. Doublet of emperor and mpret.

An emperor.

But to compensate in some degree for what was then taken away, the custom was introduced of bestowing what was termed Triumphalia Ornamenta, that is, permission to receive the titles bestowed upon, and to appear in public with the robes worn by the imperatores of the commonwealth when they triumphed, and to bequeath to their descendants triumphal statues.1843, “TRIUMPHUS”, in William Smith, Charles Anthon, editors, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 3rd American edition, New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Oh.; Chicago, Ill.: American Book Company, page 1019, column 1:
Modern emperors and consuls of the year VIII. are no more the imperatores of ancient Rome, and modern religious organizations are but the phantasms of mediæval corporations.1898 April 16, Paolo Mantegazza, anonymous translator, “From the Nuova Antologia. Regressive Evolution.”, in The Living Age, sixth series, volume XVIII; from the beginning, volume CCXVII, number 2806, Boston, Mass.: The Living Age Company, section VI, page 160, column 2:

2 more examples

He said cautiously, "I do not think it right, Imperator."1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 147:
Given the sudden proliferation of self-portraits on the coins of all the imperatores of this period, many of whom certainly had not received such a privilege, such an unattested grant to Antony need not be assumed.1990, Robert Newman, “A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian (44–30 B.C.)”, in American Journal of Numismatics, second series, volume 2, New York, N.Y.: The American Numismatic Society, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 53:

Derived terms: imperatorship
Related terms: imperatrix

Imperator

noun

Etymology From Latin imperator (“emperor”).

Formal The reigning emperor; Male equivalent of Imperatrix

Usually italicized

By a law of the tribunes L. Marius and M. Cato penalties were imposed upon all Imperatores who should be found guilty of having made false returns to the senate, and it was ordained that so soon as they returned to the city they should be required to attest the correctness of such documents upon oath before the city quaestor. […] But to compensate in some degree for what was then taken away, the custom was introduced of bestowing what were Triumphalia Ornamenta, that is, permission to receive the titles bestowed upon and to appear in public with the robes worn by the Imperatores of the commonwealth when they triumphed, and to bequeath to their descendants triumphal statues.1848, William Smith, editor, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 2nd edition, London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly, […]: John Murray, […], pages 1164 and 1167:
He [w:Trajan] was careful to distinguish and reward merit, and raised men of family, and the kindred of former Imperators, into situations of prominence or command.1850, Mrs. Hamilton Gray [i.e., w:Elizabeth Caroline Gray], Emperors of Rome from Augustus to Constantine, Being a Continuation of the History of Rome, London: Thomas Hatchard, […], page 250:

4 more examples

They were permitted to receive the titles bestowed on the Imperatores of the Republic; to appear in the garb worn by them, a gold embroidered dress (‘toga picta’), and flowered tunic (‘tunica palmeata’), and a crown of laurel.1861, Percival Frost, The Germania and Agricola of Tacitus, with Notes (Grammar School Classics), London: Whittaker and Co. […]; George Bell, […], page 154:
It is convenient to consider the Imperial dignity as that which originated in the Imperatores of Rome; the Kingship of Italy, symbolized by the iron crown, as a title resting on the subjugation of the Lombards.1863, R[obert] G[ordon] Latham, The Nationalities of Europe, volume II, London: Wm. H. Allen & Co., […], page 335:
The free citizens of Rome become the slaves of an autocratic government. They fall a prey to the unlimited sway of Imperators who again give birth to a Nero and a Caligula.1896, Charles Hermann Leibbrand, This Age of Ours: Containing The Book of Problems and The Book of Socialism, 2nd edition, London: w:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, page 251:
For within the principia the highest, and focal, point of the whole ensemble is formed by the ‘temple of the standards’, on whose lintel a Latin inscription proudly proclaimed the completion of the work: ‘The Repairers of their world and Propagators of the human race, our Lords Diocletianus and Maximianus, the most unconquered Imperatores, and Constantius and Maximianus (i.e., Galerius), the most noble Caesares, have successfully founded the camp (castra), under the care of Sossianus Hierocles, vir perfectissimus, governor (praeses) of the province, devoted to their numen and maiestas’.1993, Fergus Millar, The Roman Near East, 31 BC – AD 337, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 182:

Synonyms: I, I.
Coordinate terms: Imperatrix, Rex