royal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   invested with royal power as symbolized by a crown

   the royal (or crowned) heads of Europe

2. 2
   adj

   being of the rank of a monarch

   of royal ancestry

3. 3
   adj

   of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch

   the royal party

4. 4
   adj

   Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.

   He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. […] But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […]

5. 5
   adj

   Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.

   How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;

6. 6
   adj

   In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.

   royal mast;  royal sail

7. 7
   adj

   Used as an intensifier.

   a royal pain in the neck

8. 8
   adj

   Describing a piece which, if captured, results in loss of game.

   Maharajah and the Sepoys pits a single royal amazon for white against a standard chess army for black.

Etymology

From Middle English royal, from Old French roial (Modern French royal), from Latin rēgālis, from rēx (“king”). Doublet of regal (“befitting a king”), real (“unit of currency”), ariary, and riyal. Cognate with Spanish real. Displaced native Old English cynelīċ.