emperice

Latin

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /emˈpeː.ri.ke/, [ɛmˈpeːrɪkɛ]
  • (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /emˈpe.ri.t͡ʃe/, [emˈpɛːrit͡ʃe]

Noun

empērice m

  1. vocative singular of empēricus

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman empereiz, contraction of empereriz, from Latin imperatrix; equivalent to emperour + -esse. Final -e is apparently by analogy with other feminine nouns, as the borrowing was early enough for the Middle English gender system to survive.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛmpəˈriːs(ə)/, /ɛmpəˈrɛs(ə)/, /ˈɛmpəris(ə)/, /ˈɛmpərɛs(ə)/

Noun

emperice (plural emperesses)

  1. An empress; a female ruler of an empire.
  2. The wife or partner of an empire's ruler.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

Descendants

  • English: empress
  • Scots: empress

References

Old French

Noun

emperice f (oblique plural emperices, nominative singular emperice, nominative plural emperices)

  1. Late Anglo-Norman form of empereriz
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