empire

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large group of countries or territories ruled by one government or person

   The British built one of the largest empires in history.

2. 2
   noun

   A large and powerful business or organization controlled by one person or group

   She turned a small bakery into a global food empire.

From Middle English empire, from Old French empire, empere, from Latin imperium, inperium (“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare (“to command, order”), from in (“in, on”) + parare (“to make ready, order”). Doublet of empery and imperium.

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