01 a. Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the r…
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1.
Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state.
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2.
Noble; generous; magnificent; princely.“How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio?” — Shak.
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3.
Under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted by the sovereign; as, the Royal Academy of Arts; the Royal Society.
Phrases & compounds
Battle royal —
See under Battle.
Royal bay —
the classic laurel (Laurus nobilis.)
Royal fern —
the handsome fern Osmunda regalis. See Osmund.
Royal mast —
the mast next above the topgallant mast and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. The royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal mast.
Royal metal —
an old name for gold.
Royal palm —
a magnificent West Indian palm tree (Oreodoxa regia), lately discovered also in Florida.
Royal pheasant —
See Curassow.
Royal purple —
an intense violet color, verging toward blue.
Royal tern —
a large, crested American tern (Sterna maxima).
Royal tiger —
See Tiger.
Royal touch —
the touching of a diseased person by the hand of a king, with the view of restoring to health; -- formerly extensively practiced, particularly for the scrofula, or king's evil.
Syn.
Kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike; princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid; illustrious; noble; magnanimous.