Added 9 October 2026
sovereign
/ˈsɒv.ɹɪn/ adjective
Latin root: super Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sovereign at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Exercising power of rule.
sovereign nation
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Having supreme, ultimate power; having fully independent power in international relations.
sovereign country
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Exceptional in quality.
Her voice was her sovereign talent.
noun
verb
- To rule over as a sovereign.
Origin
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. Doublet of souverain. See also suzerain, foreign.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)