A commander; a leader; an emperor; -- originally an appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their general after an important victory. Subsequently the title was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements by the senate, whence it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning now attached to the word emperor.
a title which was usually honored a general after a major victory, it came to mean "emperor." (p. 152)
After winning a battle, the victorious general would be given this title as a salute from his soldiers. From the time of Julius Caesar, this title was taken as part of the long line of distinctions the emperors would assume. Often a number would appear after the title. This refered to the number of battles the emperor was credited with winning
traditionally the honorific which was granted to a Roman commander by his troops after a victory.
Commander, leader. Title of honor awarded to a victorious general. Later, granted to emperors for military victories. Shown as imp on coins.
commander, the title awarded victorious generals by their troops. The title was used by Octavian as a forename preceding his inherited name of Caesar, and thereafter the two titles became part of the official name of the Roman emperor. The title could also be added after the name to denote individual victory salutations. Abbreviated IMP.
The Latin word imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the period of the Roman Republic. It later went on to become a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors; after the fall of the Roman empire, in those situations where Latin was still used for formal or legal reasons, it meant "emperor." The English word emperor derives from this Latin word, via its French descendent empereur.