Definition of sovereignty

The origin of the word "sovereignty" can be traced back to the French word "souveraineté," which emerged in the 16th century. In medieval times, the French word was used to describe the supreme power and authority of a monarch over his territory. The word "sovereign" itself comes from the Latin "superānus," meaning "above" or "over." It was initially used to describe a king or a queen, who was considered to be supreme above all others in the land. When "sovereign" was translated into Old French as "soverain," it acquired the meaning of "independent" or "autonomous." The term "sovereignty" then became associated with the idea of a state or a nation being completely self-governing and responsible for making its own laws and decisions without external interference. The concept of sovereignty has evolved over time as the role of the state and the nature of international relations have changed. Today, sovereignty is understood to mean the right of a state to exercise full control within its territory, as well as the responsibility to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens and to abide by international law.