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royalty

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. 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.

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, 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.

Origin: OF. Roialte, royaulte, F. Royaute. See Royal, and cf. Regality.