mon·arch

(mŏn′ərk, -ärk′)

1. One who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right, especially:

a. A sole and absolute ruler.

b. A sovereign, such as a king or empress, often with constitutionally limited authority: a constitutional monarch.

2. One that commands or rules: "I am monarch of all I survey" (William Cowper).

3. One that surpasses others in power or preeminence: "Mont Blanc is the monarch of the mountains" (Byron).

4. A monarch butterfly.

[Middle English monarke, from Old French monarque, from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek monarkhos : mono-, mono- + arkhein, to rule.]

mo·nar′chal (mə-när′kəl), mo·nar′chic (-kĭk), mo·nar′chi·cal (-kĭ-kəl) adj.

mo·nar′chal·ly, mo·nar′chi·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mo•nar•chi•cal

(məˈnɑr kɪ kəl)

also mo•nar′chic,

adj.

of, pertaining to, or favoring a monarch or monarchy.

[1570–80; < Greek monarchik(ós) (see monarch, -ic) + -al¹]

mo•nar′chi•cal•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	monarchical - having the characteristics of or befitting or worthy of a monarch; "monarchical gestures"; "monarchal pomp" monarchal noble - of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times; "of noble birth"
	2.	monarchical - ruled by or having the supreme power resting with a monarch; "monarchal government"; "monarchical systems" monarchic, monarchal undemocratic - not in agreement with or according to democratic doctrine or practice or ideals; "the union broke with its past undemocratic procedures"

Translations

monarchical

[mɒˈnɑːkɪkəl] ADJ → monárquico

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

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References in classic literature

"It's difficult to say what is, and what is not monarchical, now-a-days; though I think one is pretty safe in pronouncing it anti-republican."

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We may be wise in asserting the advantage in modern times of the democratic form, but to other states of society, in which religion consecrated the monarchical, that and not this was expedient.

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"It is very probable," (says he[1]) "that mankind would have been obliged at length to live constantly under the government of a single person, had they not contrived a kind of constitution that has all the internal advantages of a republican, together with the external force of a monarchical government.

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Some persons say, that the most perfect government should be composed of all others blended together, for which reason they commend that of Lacedsemon; for they say, that this is composed of an oligarchy, a monarchy, and a democracy, their kings representing the monarchical part, the senate the oligarchical; and, that in the ephori may be found the democratical, as these are taken from the people.

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*The Illuminati sought to substitute republican for monarchical institutions.

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We have no aristocracy of blood, and having therefore as a natural, and indeed as an inevitable thing, fashioned for ourselves an aristocracy of dollars, the display of wealth has here to take the place and perform the office of the heraldic display in monarchical countries.

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"As the confederate republic of Germany," says Montesquieu, "consists of free cities and petty states, subject to different princes, experience shows us that it is more imperfect than that of Holland and Switzerland." "Greece was undone," he adds, "as soon as the king of Macedon obtained a seat among the Amphictyons." In the latter case, no doubt, the disproportionate force, as well as the monarchical form, of the new confederate, had its share of influence on the events.

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The chevalier had repudiated the ridiculous costume still preserved by certain monarchical old men; he had frankly modernized himself.

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When your friends the bees worry themselves to that highly fluttered extent about their sovereign, and become perfectly distracted touching the slightest monarchical movement, are we men to learn the greatness of Tuft- hunting, or the littleness of the Court Circular?

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Did he suppose every one knew every one else in the biggest country in the world, and that one wasn't as free to choose one's company there as in the most monarchical and most exclusive societies?

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When we think of the number of letters it is the private secretary's fate to open and read, besides all his other avocations, it is very evident that under a monarchical government his services would be well paid for.

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He established monarchical and republican government.

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