(n.) The twenty-first letter of the English alphabet, is a cursive form of the letter V, with which it was formerly used interchangeably, both letters being then used both as vowels and consonants. U and V are now, however, differentiated, U being used only as a vowel or semivowel, and V only as a consonant. The true primary vowel sound of U, in Anglo-Saxon, was the sound which it still retains in most of the languages of Europe, that of long oo, as in tool, and short oo, as in wood, answering to the French ou in tour. Etymologically U is most closely related to o, y (vowel), w, and v; as in two, duet, dyad, twice; top, tuft; sop, sup; auspice, aviary.

U absolute absolutist absolutistic arbitrary arrogant august authoritarian authoritative autocratic autonomous bossy bureaucratic chivalrous civic civil constitutional courtly democratic despotic dictatorial dignified domineering ducal elitist exalted fascist federal federalist federalistic feudal genteel gentle gentlemanlike gentlemanly governmental grand grave grinding gubernatorial heteronomous high high and mighty high-handed hubristic imperative imperial imperious imposing kinglike kingly knightly ladylike lordly magisterial magistral majestic masterful matriarchal matriarchic monarchal monarchial monarchic monocratic noble of gentle blood of rank official oligarchal oligarchic oppressive overbearing overruling parliamentarian parliamentary patriarchal patriarchic patrician peremptory pluralistic political princelike princely queenlike queenly quite the lady regal repressive republican royal sedate self-governing severe sober solemn stately statuesque strict suppressive theocratic titled totalitarian tyrannical tyrannous venerable worthy