scepter

noun scep·ter \ ˈsep-tər \

Updated on: 4 Apr 2018

Definition of scepter

1 : a staff or baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority

2 : royal or imperial authority : sovereignty

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Recent Examples of scepter from the Web

A few feet away, Levy dons a purple cape over her T-shirt and leggings and picks up Elsa’s scepter.

— eliana dockterman, TIME.com, "Inside Disney’s Ambitious Plan to Bring," 8 Mar. 2018
The church also calls itself the Rod of Iron Ministries, citing the Book of Revelation, which God is said to run with an iron scepter.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Church ceremony with AR-15 rifles leads nearby school to relocate students," 27 Feb. 2018
In 2005, the historic museum opened with 14 gallery rooms filled with Mardi Gras costumes and memorabilia, including gowns, robes, crowns, and scepters of previous Kings and Queens of Mobile Mardi Gras.

— tara massouleh, AL.com, "Have you been to the country's original Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile?," 6 Feb. 2018
The look was completed by Queen Julia's own jewelry, a glittering crown and scepter, and the organization's Medici collar and Dior red and ermine-trimmed mantle.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Krewe of Mystery's Rose Ball visits Casablanca," 25 Feb. 2018
Following the lead float, King Elexis I John Lafayette Finley IV and Queen Tiffani Hall put their scepters aside and launched throws of every type into the bright Tuesday sunshine.

— michael dumas, AL.com, "MAMGA celebrates 80 years of Carnival revelry," 13 Feb. 2018
Its sister jewel, the 530-carat First Star of Africa, sits atop the queen’s scepter.

— steve hendrix, Washington Post, "As the Nazis bombed Britain, the royals hid the crown jewels in the least likely place," 13 Jan. 2018
Wiley, whose signature style is to elevate his subjects by putting them in elaborate settings, tried to get the president to sit with scepters, thrones, and robes—even mounted on a horse.

— leena kim, Town & Country, "Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley Share Details of Working With the Obamas," 14 Feb. 2018
And so his initial impulse maybe in the work was to also elevate me and put me in these settings with partridges and scepters, and thrones and chifforobes and mounting me on horses.

— tierney mcafee, PEOPLE.com, "Barack and Michelle Obama Unveil Their New Official Portraits," 12 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scepter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of scepter

Origin and Etymology of scepter

Middle English sceptre, from Anglo-French septre, from Latin sceptrum, from Greek skēptron staff, scepter, from skēptesthai to prop oneself — more at shaft

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First Known Use: 14th century

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scepter

verb

Definition of scepter

sceptered; sceptering play \ˈsep-t(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

: to invest with the scepter in token of royal authority

First Known Use of scepter

1526

SCEPTER Defined for English Language Learners

scepter

noun

Definition of scepter for English Language Learners

: a long decorated stick that is carried by a king or queen

SCEPTER Defined for Kids

scepter

noun scep·ter \ ˈsep-tər \

Definition of scepter for Students

: a rod carried by a ruler as a sign of authority

a royal scepter

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Spanish Central: Translation of scepter Nglish: Translation of scepter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scepter for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scepter

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scepter

Definition of scepter

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Origin and Etymology of scepter

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