royal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sail set next above the topgallant on a royal mast
  2. noun stag with antlers of 12 or more branches
    royal stag.
  3. adjective of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
    • the royal party
    • the royal crest
    • by royal decree
    • a royal visit
  4. adjective established or chartered or authorized by royalty
    • the Royal Society
  5. adjective satellite being of the rank of a monarch
    • of royal ancestry
    • princes of the blood royal
  6. adjective satellite belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    majestic; purple; regal; imperial.
    • golden age of imperial splendor
    • purple tyrant
    • regal attire
    • treated with royal acclaim
    • the royal carriage of a stag's head
  7. adjective satellite invested with royal power as symbolized by a crown
    • the royal (or crowned) heads of Europe

WordNet

Roy"al adjective
Etymology
OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.
Definitions
  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.
  2. Noble; generous; magnificent; princely.
    How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? Shak.
  3. Under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted by the sovereign; as, the Royal Academy of Arts; the Royal Society. Syn. -- Kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike; princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid; illustrious; noble; magnanimous.
Roy"al noun
Definitions
  1. Printing and writing papers of particular sizes. See under paper, n.
  2. (Naut.) A small sail immediately above the topgallant sail. Totten.
  3. (Zoöl.) One of the upper or distal branches of an antler, as the third and fourth tynes of the antlers of a stag.
  4. (Gun.) A small mortar.
  5. (Mil.) One of the soldiers of the first regiment of foot of the British army, formerly called the Royals, and supposed to be the oldest regular corps in Europe; -- now called the Royal Scots.
  6. An old English coin. See Rial.

Webster 1913