Imperator

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Imperator \Im`pe*ra"tor\, n. [L. See {Emperor}.] (Rom. Antiq.)
     A commander; a leader; an emperor; -- originally an
     appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their
     general after an important victory. Subsequently the title
     was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements
     by the senate, whence it carried with it some special


     privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed
     by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning
     now attached to the word emperor.
     [1913 Webster]