royalty
    n 1: payment to the holder of a patent or copyright or resource
         for the right to use their property; "he received royalties
         on his book"
    2: royal persons collectively; "the wedding was attended by
       royalty" [syn: royalty, royal family, royal line,
       royal house]

Royalty \Roy"al*ty\, n.; pl. Royalties. [OF. roialt['e],
   royault['e], F. royaut['e]. See Royal, and cf. Regality.]
   1. The state of being royal; the condition or quality of a
      royal person; kingship; kingly office; sovereignty.
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            Royalty by birth was the sweetest way of majesty.
                                                  --Holyday.
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   2. The person of a king or sovereign; majesty; as, in the
      presence of royalty.
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            For thus his royalty doth speak.      --Shak.
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   3. An emblem of royalty; -- usually in the plural, meaning
      regalia. [Obs.]
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            Wherefore do I assume
            These royalties, and not refuse to reign? --Milton.
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   4. Kingliness; spirit of regal authority.
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            In his royalty of nature
            Reigns that which would be fear'd.    --Shak.
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   5. Domain; province; sphere. --Sir W. Scott.
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   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.
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   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.
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   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.
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