principate

Meanings

1. The early period of the Roman Empire, during which some characteristics of the government of the Roman Republic were retained; the reign of any particular emperor during said period.
2. The office of one who is principal or preeminent (such as a prince); the quality or status of being principal; preeminence.
3. A state ruled by a prince; a principality.

1. Primary; principal.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin prīncipātus, referring to the titles prīnceps senātūs (“first among senators”) and prīnceps cīvitātis (“first among citizens”), adopted by Octavian Caesar Augustus in order to preserve the illusion of formal continuance of some aspects of the Roman Republic.