Holy Roman Empire

English

Etymology

Calque of German Heiliges Römisches Reich and Medieval Latin Sacrum Rōmānum Imperium.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈhəʊli ˈɹəʊmən ˈɛmpaɪə/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈhoʊli ˈɹoʊmən ˈɛmpaɪɚ/

Proper noun

the Holy Roman Empire (abbreviation HRE)

  1. (historical) A former polity and medieval empire forming a loose conglomeration of largely independent mostly Germanic entities in Central Europe from at least 962 C.E. until 1806. [from 17th c.]

Synonyms

Translations