suveræne

Suveræne is the plural form of the Danish and Norwegian adjective suveren, used to describe someone or something that possesses supreme power or independence. It is commonly applied to states or governments to indicate they have full legal and political authority within a territory, free from external interference recognized by international law. It can also describe historical or royal figures who hold sovereign authority; in plural contexts it refers to multiple sovereign entities, such as suveræne stater (sovereign states).

Etymology and form: The term derives from the same root as the English sovereign, ultimately from Old French souverain and Latin superanus meaning above or chief. The Danish and Norwegian forms entered these languages through medieval contact with French and Latin, and today suveren and suveræne follow standard adjective inflection in these languages.

Usage in law and politics: In international law, sovereignty denotes the full capacity of a state to govern itself without external interference. The adjective suveren is commonly used to describe such states or other entities in everyday language, though precise legal terminology often prefers phrases like “sovereign state.” The term can also appear in historical or political writing to reference rulers or authorities with supreme jurisdiction.

See also: Sovereignty; Sovereign state; Autonomy; Independence.