Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • etc See scepter, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An ornamental staff held by a ruling monarch as a symbol of power.
  • verb To give a sceptre to.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a ceremonial or emblematic staff
  • noun the imperial authority symbolized by a scepter

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old French sceptre, from Latin sceptrum, from Ancient Greek σκῆπτρον (skeptron, "staff, stick, baton"), from σκήπτω (skepto, "to prop, to support, to lean upon a staff").

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Examples

  • He snatches the sceptre from the hand of power, and tramples on goodness, and mocks at greatness.

    Strength in Sorrow 1865

  • The king governeth his people; he hath a golden crown upon his head, and the royal sceptre is in his hand; he sitteth upon a throne, and sendeth forth his commands; his subjects fear before him; if they do well, he protecteth them from danger; and if they do evil, he punisheth them.

    Hymns in Prose for Children Anna Letitia 1781

  • Many grieve under doubts whether they have an interest in Christ or no, when they should be rejoicing that they have an interest in him; the golden sceptre is held out to them, and they are invited to come and touch the top of it.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • And one reason among many, of their being thus deluded, is this, they say that the word sceptre in Genesis 49 is not meant of a kingly government; but the meaning is, (say they) a rod, or persecutions shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come.

    Works of John Bunyan — Volume 02 John Bunyan 1658

  • The revolution which transferred the sceptre from the Abbassides to the Fatimites was a benefit, rather than an injury, to the Holy

    The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206

  • a place Alroy finds access, and takes the sceptre from the hand of its rightful owner, leagues himself with a band of robbers, of all nations and creeds, in the vicinity of Hamadan, sends forth his invitation to his Jewish brethren to join him, goes on from small enterprises to greater, and becomes the conqueror of Persia and of the Caliphate of Bagdad.

    A Review of 'Alroy' 1833

  • The centre of the sceptre is a sphere which represents Sunyata, or the primordial nature of the universe that underlies all things.

    Buddhism: A beginners guide: Part 6 2007

  • The sceptre is a plaything for a child, an axe for a Richelieu, and for

    The Magic Skin 2007

  • On the table, by the side of the great parchment acts, lies a huge gilt sceptre, which is always taken away, and placed in a conservatory under the table, as soon as ever the Speaker quits the chair; which he does as often as the House resolves itself into a committee.

    Travels in England in 1782 2004

  • And to verify both these sentences, we must understand that Jacob leaning on Joseph's rod adored, turning towards the head of his bed: which adoration, inasmuch as it was referred to God, was an absolute and sovereign worship: but inasmuch as it was referred to the rod of Joseph, as a figure of the sceptre, that is, of the royal dignity of Christ, was only an inferior and relative honour.

    The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete Anonymous

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