Sovereign

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈsÉ’v.rɪn/

Origin

From Old French soverain (whence also modern French souverain), from Vulgar Latin root *superānus (cf. Italian sovrano, Spanish soberano) from Latin super ("above"). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. See also suzerain.

Full definition of sovereign

Adjective

1. Exercising power of rule.sovereign nation
2. Exceptional in quality.
3. (now rare) Extremely potent or effective (of a medicine, remedy etc.).
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.v:The soueraigne weede betwixt two marbles plaine
  She pownded small, and did in peeces bruze,
  And then atweene her lilly handes twaine,
  Into his wound the iuyce thereof did scruze ...
• unknown date Drydena sovereign remedy
• unknown date SouthSuch a sovereign influence has this passion upon the regulation of the lives and actions of men.
4. Having supreme, ultimate power.
5. Princely; royal.
• unknown date Shakespearemost sovereign name
6. Predominant; greatest; utmost; paramount.
• unknown date HookerWe acknowledge him God our sovereign good.

Derived terms

• sovereignly

Synonyms

• autonomous
• supreme

Noun

1. A monarch; the ruler of a country.
• JeffersonNo question is to be made but that the bed of the Mississippi belongs to the sovereign, that is, to the nation.
2. One who is not a subject to a ruler or nation.
3. A gold coin of the United Kingdom, with a nominal value of one pound sterling but in practice used as a bullion coin.
4. A very large champagne bottle with the capacity of about 25 liters, equivalent to 33â…“ standard bottles.
5. Any butterfly of the tribe '', or genus , as the ursula and the viceroy.

Synonyms

• king
• monarch
• queen

Derived terms

• sovereignty