Im'pe·rā'tor, n.

n. [Lat., from imperare, to command.] (Rom. Antiq.) A commander-in-chief; a generalissimo; — a title of honor conferred on Roman generals in connection with great military achievements. It was often given by soldiers who saluted their victorious general by this title; but it had to be specially conferred by a law passed in the assembly of the Curiae, that the authority and privileges belonging to the title should be possessed.