- sovereign
- late 13c., from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin *superanus "chief, principal," from Latin super "over" (see super-). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Milton spelled it sovran, as though from Italian sovrano. Meaning "gold coin worth 22s 6d" first recorded late 15c.; value changed 1817 to 1 pound. As an adjective, attested from early 14c.; of remedies or medicines, "potent in a high degree," from late 14c.