Empress
/ˈɛmprɪs/
Definitions
2 meaningsA woman who rules an empire; the wife or consort of an emperor.
/ˈɛmprɪs/
A female ruler of an empire.
Empress Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in Chinese history.
💡 Simply: Imagine a powerful queen, but instead of ruling just a kingdom, she rules a huge empire! Like a super-queen! Think of it like in a movie where a woman is the most important ruler of a really big country, like a queen times a thousand. Or, it could refer to the wife of an emperor.
👶 For kids: The empress is like a queen who rules a really big, important place called an empire.
More Examples
The empress wore a crown adorned with jewels.
The death of the empress caused a period of mourning in the empire.
How It's Used
"Empress Theodora was a powerful figure in the Byzantine Empire."
"The empress ruled over vast territories."
The wife of an emperor.
/ˈɛmprɪs/
The empress greeted the visiting dignitaries with a warm smile.
💡 Simply: The empress is the wife of the emperor. You could say, 'Hey, that's the Emperor's wife!'
👶 For kids: The empress is the wife of the emperor.
More Examples
The new empress quickly became beloved by the people.
She was known as the empress of a vast kingdom.
How It's Used
"The empress attended the state banquet alongside the emperor."
Idioms & expressions
The Empress Dowager
The widow of an emperor, especially one who rules in the name of a successor.
"The Empress Dowager ruled behind the scenes."
From Old French emperesse, from Latin imperatrix, feminine form of imperator ('emperor'), meaning 'commander'. The word reflects the rule or status of a female monarch.
The term 'empress' has been used to denote female rulers or the wives of emperors for centuries. The power and influence associated with the title has varied across cultures and time periods.
Memory tip
Think of a QUEEN, but for an EMPIRE.