Pronunciation: [ˈɛmpɹɛsɪz] (IPA) 
The word "empresses" is spelled with a double s at the end, despite the fact that the singular form "empress" only has a single s. This is because the final consonant sound in "empress" is actually voiced, which means that the vocal cords vibrate during pronunciation. When adding the plural suffix -es, it is necessary to add an extra -s to maintain the voiced sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "empresses" is /ˈɛmprəsɪz/.
Empresses are female monarchs who hold the highest rank and authority in an empire or imperial system. The term primarily refers to a woman who is the wife or widow of an emperor, or the mother of an emperor in a hereditary monarchy. As the female counterpart of an emperor, the empress typically possesses a position of influential power within the imperial court.
Empresses often have a symbolic or ceremonial role representing the empire and playing an important part in the governance of the state. Their duties may encompass diplomatic engagements, inter-state relations, and patronage of various cultural and social initiatives. Throughout history, empresses have been known to exercise political influence, sometimes even ruling in their own right. Examples of powerful empresses include Empress Wu Zetian of China and Empress Catherine the Great of Russia.
The exact status and responsibilities of empresses vary across different cultures and historical periods. In some cases, empresses may hold substantive power, acting as regents or co-rulers alongside emperors. In other cases, their authority might be more symbolic, signifying a non-governance role or representing the prestige and lineage of the imperial family.
Overall, empresses are important figures in the history of many empires, known for their regal stature, influence, and their contributions to the administration and culture of their respective realms.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word empresses has its etymology traced back to the Latin word imperatrix. This feminine form of imperator refers to a female ruler or sovereign, particularly the wife or widow of an emperor. Imperatrix is derived from the verb imperare, which means to command or to rule. Over time, the term evolved through various languages and historical periods to become the word empresses in English, representing female rulers who hold the title of empress.
