empery

noun /ˈɛm.pə.ɹɪ/

1. An empire; the status or dominion of an emperor.

   archaic

   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 and Empery.

   Let’s cheere our ſouldiers to incounter him,

2. Absolute power or authority.

   archaic

   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 the empery of Zeus, And leave off his old trick of loving man.

   Because he filched away

Where it comes from

From Middle English emperie, from Old French emperie, from Latin imperium, inperium (“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare (“to command, order”), from in (“in, on”) + parare (“to make ready, order”). Doublet of imperium and empire.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry empery (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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