Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Empire

Empire , noun

[French, from Latin imperium a command, sovereignty, dominion, empire, from imperare. See Emperor; compare Imperial.]

1.
Supreme power; sovereignty; sway; dominion.
The empire of the sea. — Shakespeare
Over hell extend His empire, and with iron scepter rule. — Milton
2.
The dominion of an emperor; the territory or countries under the jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor (rarely of a king), usually of greater extent than a kingdom, always comprising a variety in the nationality of, or the forms of administration in, constituent and subordinate portions; as, the Austrian empire.
Empire carries with it the idea of a vast and complicated government. — C. J. Smith
3.
Any dominion; supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway; as, the empire of mind or of reason.
Under the empire of facts. — M. Arnold
Another force which, in the Middle Ages, shared with chivalry the empire over the minds of men. — A. W. Ward
Collocations (3)
Celestial empire , See under Celestial.
Empire City , a common designation of the city of New York.
Empire State , a common designation of the State of New York.