sovereignties

Noun

sovereignty (countable and uncountable, plural sovereignties)

1. Of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something.
   • […] Zephyrus the VVeſterne vvind being in loue vvith her [Chloris], and coueting her to vvyfe, gaue her for a dovvrie, the chiefedome and ſoueraigntye of al flovvers and greene herbes, grovving on earth.1579, E. K., “[Aprill. Ægloga Quarta.] Glosse.”, in Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC, folio 15, verso

   Synonyms:

   diadem

   Antonyms:

   nonsovereignty

2. (broadly) Of a nation or other polity: the state of being able to control resources, make laws independently, and otherwise govern itself without the coercion or concurrence of other polities.
   • Sovereignty, as a matter of right, appertains to the Nation only, and not to any individual; and a Nation has at all times an inherent indefeaſible right to aboliſh any form of Government it finds inconvenient, and eſtabliſh ſuch as accords vvith its intereſt, diſpoſition, and happineſs.1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution, London: […] J. S. Jordan, […], →OCLC, page 157

   Synonyms:

   autarchy, independence, nationality, nationhood

   Antonyms:

   nonsovereignty

3. (broadly) Of a person: the liberty to decide one's actions and thoughts.

   Antonyms:

   nonsovereignty

4. Pre-eminent or superior excellence; also, superior ability to achieve something; mastery.
   • [His head,] Wherein by curious ſoueraigntie of Art, / Are fixt his piercing inſtruments of ſight: / Whose fiery circles beare encompaſſed / A heauen of heauenly bodies in their Spheares: […]c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...

   Antonyms:

   nonsovereignty

5. (countable) A territory under the rule of a sovereign; an independent or self-governing nation or other polity.
   • Theſe Expences […] vvould not for the preſent, Rebus ſic ſtantibus [with things thus standing], become this King, vvhoſe fame and honour (as all other Sovereignties, ſo his in particular) ſtood more upon Reputation than profit; […]1656, William Sanderson, “The Reign and Death of King James, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, the First, &c.”, in A Compleat History of the Lives and Reigns of Mary Queen of Scotland, and of...