Roy"al*ty (?), n.;
pl. Royalties (#). [OF.
roialté, royaulté, F.
royauté. See Royal, and cf. Regality.]
1. The state of
being royal; the condition or quality of
a royal person; kingship; kingly office; sovereignty.
Royalty by birth was the
sweetest way of majesty.
Holyday. 2. The person of
a king or sovereign; majesty; as, in the presence of royalty.
For thus his
royalty doth speak.
Shak.
3. An emblem of royalty; -- usually in the plural, meaning regalia. [Obs.]
Wherefore do I assume
These royalties, and not refuse to
reign?
Milton.
4. Kingliness; spirit of regal authority.
In his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd.
Shak. 5.
Domain; province; sphere. Sir W. Scott.
6. That which is
due to a sovereign, as a seigniorage on gold and silver coined at the mint, metals taken from mines, etc.; the tax exacted in lieu of such share; imperiality.
7.
A share of the product or profit (as of
a mine, forest, etc.), reserved by the owner
for permitting another to use the property.
8. Hence (Com.), a duty paid by a manufacturer to the owner of
a patent or
a copyright at a certain
rate for each article manufactured; or, a percentage paid to the owner
of an article by one who hires
the use of it.
Hear it pronounced