Imperious
/ɪmˈpɪəriəs/noun
Having an arrogant, domineering manner or expecting unquestioning obedience.
Did you know?Imperious originally meant “belonging to an empire” or “commanding,” before English narrowed it into a criticism of people who act as though everyone must obey them.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“To bring forward, pass over, or procure; a proposed ancestral root behind Latin parare.”
Classical Latin
Latin
imperāre
“To command, order, or exercise authority; traditionally analyzed as im- plus parāre, “to arrange or prepare.””
Classical Latin
Latin
imperium
“Command, authority, or supreme power, especially the legal power held by a Roman magistrate.”
Classical Latin
Latin
imperiōsus
“Commanding, powerful, or possessing authority.”
14th Century
Old French
imperious
“Imperious or commanding; borrowed from Latin imperiōsus.”
16th Century
English
imperious
“Dominating, lordly, or arrogantly commanding; the modern critical sense became established.”