imperious
adjective/ɪmˈpɪəriəs/
/ɪmˈpɪriəs/
(formal, often disapproving)- expecting people to obey you and treating them as if they are not as important as you
- The professor was as imperious as ever.
- She put out an imperious hand to stop him.
- an imperious gesture/voice/command
- He waved an imperious hand.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin imperiosus, from imperium ‘command, authority, empire’; related to imperare ‘to command’. Compare with imperial.Want to learn more?
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imperious