3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sovereign  \Sov"er*eign\  (?  or  ?;  277),  n. 
  1.  The  person,  body,  or  state  in  which  independent  and 
  supreme  authority  is  vested;  especially,  in  a  monarchy,  a 
  king,  queen,  or  emperor. 
 
  No  question  is  to  be  made  but  that  the  bed  of  the 
  Mississippi  belongs  to  the  sovereign,  that  is  to 
  the  nation.  --Jefferson. 
 
  2.  A  gold  coin  of  Great  Britain,  on  which  an  effigy  of  the 
  head  of  the  reigning  king  or  queen  is  stamped,  valued  at 
  one  pound  sterling,  or  about  $4.86. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  butterfly  of  the  tribe  {Nymphalidi},  or 
  genus  {Basilarchia},  as  the  ursula  and  the  viceroy. 
 
  Syn:  King;  prince;  monarch;  potentate;  emperor. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sovereign  \Sov"er*eign\  (?  or  ?;  277),  a.  [OE.  soverain 
  sovereyn  OF  soverain  suvrain  F.  souverain  LL  superanus 
  fr  L.  superus  that  is  above,  upper,  higher,  fr  super  above. 
  See  {Over},  {Super},  and  cf  {Soprano}.  The  modern  spelling 
  is  due  to  a  supposed  connection  with  reign.] 
  1.  Supreme  or  highest  in  power;  superior  to  all  others 
  chief;  as  our  sovereign  prince. 
 
  2.  Independent  of  and  unlimited  by  any  other  possessing, 
  or  entitled  to  original  authority  or  jurisdiction;  as  a 
  sovereign  state;  a  sovereign  discretion. 
 
  3.  Princely;  royal.  ``Most  sovereign  name.''  --Shak. 
 
  At  Babylon  was  his  sovereign  see  --Chaucer. 
 
  4.  Predominant;  greatest;  utmost;  paramount. 
 
  We  acknowledge  him  [God]  our  sovereign  good. 
  --Hooker. 
 
  5.  Efficacious  in  the  highest  degree;  effectual;  controlling; 
  as  a  sovereign  remedy.  --Dryden. 
 
  Such  a  sovereign  influence  has  this  passion  upon  the 
  regulation  of  the  lives  and  actions  of  men.  --South. 
 
  {Sovereign  state},  a  state  which  administers  its  own 
  government,  and  is  not  dependent  upon  or  subject  to 
  another  power. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sovereign 
  adj  1:  of  political  bodies;  "an  autonomous  judiciary";  "a  sovereign 
  state"  [syn:  {autonomous},  {independent},  {self-governing}] 
  2:  greatest  in  status  or  authority  or  power;  "a  supreme 
  tribunal"  [syn:  {supreme}] 
  n  :  the  ruler  of  a  nation  [syn:  {crowned  head},  {monarch}] 

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