sceptre
A special, decorated stick that a king or queen holds in ceremonies to show power and rule.
A decorated staff or rod carried by a king, queen, or other ruler during ceremonies as a symbol of royal authority.
The power and right of a king or queen to rule a country.
Royal power, rule, or sovereignty, especially that of a king or queen, referred to as if it were a physical sceptre.
To give a person a sceptre to show that they are now a king or queen.
To present someone with a sceptre as a sign of royal authority or to invest someone with royal power.
- Base: sceptre
- Plural: sceptres
- Base: sceptre
- 3rd Person Singular: sceptres
- Present Participle: sceptring
- Past: sceptred
- Past Participle: sceptred
lay down the sceptre
1give up royal power
To stop being king or queen, or to give up a powerful ruling position.
- Growing old and sick, the king chose to lay down the sceptre and retire to a quiet island.
- The novel ends with the queen laying down the sceptre and passing rule to her daughter.
the sceptre and the crown
1combined symbols of royal power
The main things (the sceptre and the crown) that show a king or queen’s power and position.
- The poet contrasts the simple life of a farmer with the splendour of the sceptre and the crown.
- In the museum display, the sceptre and the crown are guarded day and night.