Main Entry: em•pire

[raccoon]

Pronunciation: \ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r\ (This doesn't display the way it's supposed to!)
Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French empire, empirie, from Latin imperium absolute authority, empire, from imperare to command — more at EMPEROR

Date: 14th century

1 a (1) :a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority; especially : one having an emperor as chief of state (2) : the territory of such a political unit b : something resembling a political empire; especially : an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control

2 : imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empire

[arcadian]

1. It's funny when I tell people America is an empire

It just doesn't/can't register. It fouls up their America as benevolent, sanctified by God, do no wrong, myth.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Get off my lawn!

[el_bryanto]

3. A word often means more than it's dictionary definition

That said we've been an empire since the Spanish American War, if not before.

Bryant