Related:

• PLENIPOTENTIARY, adj. Having full power. A Minister Plenipotentiary is a diplomatist possessing absolute authority on condition that he never exert it.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• LAUREATE, adj. Crowned with leaves of the laurel. In England the Poet Laureate is an officer of the sovereign's cou
  acting as dancing skeleton at every royal feast and singing-mute at every royal funeral....
• PRECEDENT, n. In Law, a previous decision, rule or practice which
  in the absence of a definite statute, has whatever force and authority a Judge may choose to give it, thereby greatly simplifying his task of doing as he pleases....
• PLEBISCITE, n. A popular vote to ascertain the will of the sovereign.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• PREROGATIVE, n. A sovereign's right to do wrong. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary
• DEGENERATE, adj. Less conspicuously admirable than one's ancestors.
  The contemporaries of Homer were striking examples of degeneracy...
• SCEPTER, n. A king's staff of office, the sign and symbol of his authority.
  It was originally a mace with which the sovereign admonished his jester and vetoed ministerial measures by breaking the bones of their proponents....
• INTERREGNUM, n. The period during which a monarchical country is governed by a warm spot on the cushion of the throne.
  The experiment of letting the spot grow cold has commonly been attended by most unhappy results from the zeal of many worthy persons to make it warm again....
• FAIRY, n. A creature, variously fashioned and endowed, that formerly inhabited the meadows and forests.
  It was nocturnal in its habits, and somewhat addicted to dancing and the theft of children....