emperor
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the male ruler of an empire, which is a large group of countries or states.
the male sovereign or supreme ruler of an empire. Historically, this title suggests authority over multiple kingdoms or diverse territories.
Simple“The emperor ruled over a vast territory that stretched across two continents.”
In context“Historians often debate whether the emperor possessed absolute power or was merely a figurehead for the military elite.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a very large penguin that lives in the Antarctic.
a common shorthand for the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species.
Simple“We watched a documentary about how the emperor survives the freezing winter.”
In context“The emperor is unique among birds for its ability to breed during the harshest conditions of the Antarctic winter.”
Synonymsemperor penguin - 03 C2 Proficiency
a specific card in a tarot deck that usually shows a powerful man.
the fourth trump or major arcana card in a tarot deck, typically symbolising authority, structure, and fatherhood.
Simple“She drew the Emperor card, which the reader said meant she needed more discipline.”
In context“In many occult traditions, the Emperor represents the archetypal father and the imposition of order upon the material world.”
From Middle English emperour, from Anglo-Norman emperour, from Latin imperātorem, derived from imperō (“to command”). Doublet of imperator. Displaced earlier Old English casere, from Latin Caesar.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.