Make Your Point > Archived Issues > IMPERIOUS

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"IMPERIOUS" Meaning: Imperious people act bossy, commanding, and stuck-up, like a dictator who thinks everybody else is unworthy. Pronunciation: im PEER ee us Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “an imperious manager.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The manager was imperious.”) Other forms: imperiously, imperiousness How to use it: This word can be gently mocking or deeply insulting. Use it with care. Usually you talk about imperious people, imperious attitudes and personalities, imperious commands or looks or gestures, etc. Occasionally you might get abstract and talk about an imperious emotion or feeling (one that dominates you and forces you to do its bidding,) or an imperious duty or necessity (one that, again, dictates exactly what you do and how.) The reckless, imperious way in which they stormed into the pharmacy department and demanded all sorts of protocol changes eventually chased off at least half the technicians. Through her seventies, she was imperious and loud and sharp. But age has softened her. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "imperious" means when you can explain it without saying "domineering" or "arrogant." Think of someone you know who's really bossy, and fill in the blanks: "(Person) earned (his/her) imperious reputation by _____." Example: "She earned her imperious reputation by berating any student who accidentally made a mess." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're playing with song lyrics that include words featured in issues of Make Your Point. I’ll give you a few lines from the song, with a blank where our word appears, along with its definition. See if you can come up with it! You can follow the link to see the right answer right away, or just wait until the following day’s issue. Have fun! Yesterday's lyrics: Artist: Taylor Swift Title: Welcome To New York Lyrics:    Walking through a crowd    The village is aglow    ______ of loud    Heartbeats under coats Definition: something full of moving shapes and colors, or something that changes very quickly again and again. (We looked at the adjective, but use the noun to fill in this blank.) Answer: kaleidoscope Try this one today: Artist: The Decembrists Title: On the Bus Mall Lyrics:    For the old men at the off-tracks,    Who've paid in _____    And crumpled old dollars Definition: meaningless chit-chat Peek at the answer... A Point Well Made: Ben Jonson: “In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be.” 1. The closest opposite of IMPERIOUS is A. ILL B. WRONG C. MEEK 2. It takes more than an imperious _____ to unhinge us. A. weapon B. disaster C. threat Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. C Exploring the archives: Hey, didn't we do "imperious" already? Nope, but we looked at "imperial," which shares a root with "imperious." You probably won't offend anyone if you mix them up. However, if you do care about the difference, here it is: you call something imperial if it's grand and magnificent (like it's made for an emperor) or if it's authoritative and commanding (like it's something an emperor would say or do.) Today's word, imperious, takes that second meaning even further: something or someone imperious is commanding, bossy, overbearing, and stuck-up. So, "imperious" always has a negative tone. Could you take that same idea of haughtiness and disdain toward others, and recall the adjective for people who think they're so holy and perfect, but aren't?