sceptre

views updated May 23 2018

sceptre an ornamented staff carried by rulers on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of sovereignty; in England, the traditional way of signifying the royal assent to a bill was by the sovereign's touching it with the sceptre. The word comes (in Middle English) via Old French and Latin from Greek skēptron, from skēptein ‘lean on’.

sceptre

views updated May 18 2018

sceptre, U.S. scepter rod or wand as a symbol of regal or imperial authority. XIII. ME. ceptre, septre (with later assim. to L. and Gr.) — OF. ceptre, (also mod.) sceptre — L. scēptrum — Gr. skêptron, f. skḗptein prop.