Word: 'emperor' • Extended Annotations
Word: 'emperor' • Extended Annotations
from Greek empeiros "experienced (in a thing), proven by use"
Emperor was a title conferred by vote of the Roman army on a successful general. Thus, as per the original meaning of the word, calling the general "experienced, proven".
In further usage, imperator (with "i", see imp-words) became an adopted or passed down title, entirely losing its original sense. During the Middle Ages, the term was applied to various rulers of China, Japan, etc.
In 1804, Napoleon took the title for himself.
Meanwhile, it is associated with ruling, and butterflies, instead of experience.
The Ancient Greek word for the later understanding of "emperor" is autokrátōr, autánax, or kaîsar.
| ~☉~ | lucid definition; added layer of lucidity, or aethereal context |
| ⚜ | classic definition |
| ☣ | artificium definition; usually words which have undergone a warped evolution, or a complete perversion of the original sense |
