empress

Definition

The female monarch (ruler) of an empire.

Etymology

From Middle English emperice, emperesse, from Anglo-Norman and Old French empereriz, from Latin imperatrix, equivalent to emperor + -ess. Doublet of imperatrix. Compare modern French impératrice.

Example Sentences

• "Sit downe by her: adorned with my Crowne, As if thou wert the Empreſſe of the world."
• "Empress, imperial regent, and even emperor herself (r. 797–802), Irene was an important and powerful figure at the Byzantine court in the late eighth and early ninth century."