sovereign

Etymology

From Middle English sovereyn, from Old French soverain (whence also modern French souverain), from Vulgar Latin *superānus (compare Italian sovrano, Spanish soberano) from Latin super (“above”). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Doublet of soprano, from the same Latin root via Italian. See also suzerain, foreign.

adj

1. Exercising power of rule.
   sovereign nation
2. Exceptional in quality.
   Her voice was her sovereign talent.
3. (now rare, pharmacology) Extremely potent or effective (of a medicine, remedy etc.).
   Homer of Moly and Nepenthe singes: Moly, the gods most soveraigne hearbe divine. Nepenth Hellen's drink, which gladnes brings,— 1876, John Davies, “[Tobacco.]”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Edited, with Memorial-Introduction and Notes, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes (Early English Poets), volume II, London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly, →OCLC, page 226
   In Spain people still bathe in the sea or roll naked in the dew of the meadows on St. John’s Eve, believing that this is a sovereign preservative against diseases of the skin. 1900, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 3, page 297
4. Having supreme, ultimate power.
   Gentlemen, may I introduce Her Royal Highness, the Sovereign and Most Imperial Majesty, Empress Elizabeth of Vicron.
   You're the keeper of the castle So be a father to your children The provider of all their daily needs Like a sovereign Lord protector Be their destiny's director And they'll do well to follow where you lead. 1972, Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert (lyrics and music), “Keeper of the Castle”, performed by The Four Tops
5. Princely; royal.
6. Predominant; greatest; utmost; paramount.

noun

1. A monarch; the ruler of a country.
   No question is to be made but that the bed of the Missisippi belongs to the sovereign, that is, to the nation. 1785, Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia
2. One who is not a subject to a ruler or nation.
   1. Short for sovereign citizen.
3. A gold coin of the United Kingdom, with a nominal value of one pound sterling but in practice used as a bullion coin.
4. A former Australian gold coin, minted from 1855–1931, of one pound value.
5. A very large champagne bottle with the capacity of about 25 liters, equivalent to 33+¹⁄₃ standard bottles.
6. Any butterfly of the tribe Nymphalini, or genus Basilarchia, as the ursula and the viceroy.
7. (UK, slang) A large, garish ring; a sovereign ring.
   No, someone who wears loads of sovereigns as well loads of gold and has uh a curly perm and peroxide blonde hair, orange, orange sunbed skin and a fringe like this blow-dried to death, that’s a ‘scally’. 2004, December 11, "Birkenhead, Merseyside" BBC Voices recording (0:06:52)
   No visible tattoos, sovereigns, mismatched jewellery, scrunchies, large clips or hoop earrings. 2011-07-01, Caroline Davies, “Harrods 'ladies' code' drives out sales assistant”, in The Guardian

verb

1. (transitive) To rule over as a sovereign.