im|pe|ri|um

im|pe|ri|um «ihm PIHR ee uhm», noun, plural -pe|ri|a «-PIHR ee uh».

1. command; supreme power; empire.

2. Law. the right to use the force of the state to enforce the law.

╂[< Latin imperium empire < imperāre to command; see etym. under imperative (Cf. ↑imperative)]