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Webster 1913 Edition


Monarchy

Mon′arch-y

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Monarchies
(#)
.
[F.
monarchie
, L.
monarchia
, Gr. [GREEK]. See
Monarch
.]
1.
A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch.
2.
A system of government in which the chief ruler is a monarch.
In those days he had affected zeal for
monarchy
.
Macaulay.
3.
The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
What scourage for perjury
Can this dark
monarchy
afford false Clarence.
Shakespeare
Fifth monarchy
,
a universal monarchy, supposed to be the subject of prophecy in Daniel ii.; the four preceding monarchies being Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman. See
Fifth Monarchy men
, under
Fifth
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Monarchy

MON'ARCHY

,
Noun.
[Gr. See Monarch.]
1.
A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a single person. Such a state is usually called an empire or a kingdom; and we usually give this denomination to a large state only. But the same name is sometimes given to a kingdom or state in which the power of the king or supreme magistrate is limited by a constitution, or by fundamental laws. Such is the British monarchy. Hence we speak of absolute or despotic monarchies, and of limited monarchies.
A free government has a great advantage over a simple monarchy.
2.
A kingdom; an empire.

Definition 2024


monarchy

monarchy

English

Noun

monarchy (countable and uncountable, plural monarchies)

  1. A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).
    • An absolute monarchy is a monarchy where the monarch is legally the ultimate authority in all temporal matters.
    • A constitutional monarchy is a monarchy in which the monarch's power is legally constrained, ranging from where minor concessions have been made to appease certain factions to where the monarch is a figurehead with all real power in the hands of a legislative body.
  2. The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
    • Shakespeare
      What scourge for perjury / Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?
  3. A form of government where sovereignty is embodied by a single ruler in a state and his high aristocracy representing their separate divided lands within the state and their low aristocracy representing their separate divided fiefs.

Usage notes

Historically refers to a wide variety of systems with a single, nominally absolute ruler (compare autocracy, dictatorship), today primarily refers to and connotes a traditional, hereditary position, often with mainly symbolic power. Typically used of rulers who use the terms king/queen or emperor/empress.

Synonyms

Related terms

Coordinate terms

See also: Category:en:Forms of government


Number Noun
1 monarchy
2 biarchy / binarchy / diarchy / duumvirate
3 triarchy / triumvirate
4 tetrarchy / tetradarchy / quadrumvirate
5 pentarchy / quinumvirate
6 hexarchy
7 heptarchy
8 octarchy / octovirate
10 decarchy / decemvirate
12 dodecarchy
20 vigintivirate
26 vigintisexviri
100 hecatontarchy

Translations

See also

See also: Category:en:Monarchy

Polish

Noun

monarchy

  1. genitive singular of monarcha