Definition

1. Noun:

   • A supreme military commander: The highest-ranking officer who commands an entire army or multiple armies.
   • A supreme or dominating element: An entity, force, or principle that governs or controls all others in a particular sphere.

2. Verb:

   • To command supremely; to dominate: To hold overarching authority or control over all aspects of something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Ông ấy là thống soái của toàn bộ lực lượng. (He is the supreme commander of the entire force.)
  • Kinh tế không thể là thống soái duy nhất. (Economics cannot be the sole supreme element.)

• Verb:

  • Tư tưởng ấy thống soái toàn bộ nền văn học thời kỳ đó. (That ideology dominated the entire literature of that period.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal, military, or philosophical contexts to denote ultimate authority or a guiding principle.
• Often implies a centralized, absolute form of command or influence.

Variants and Related Words

• Thống lĩnh (v): to lead, to command (an army or group). Often used for a high-level commander but not necessarily the absolute supreme commander.
  • Vị tướng thống lĩnh ba quân đoàn. (The general commanded three army corps.)

Synonyms

• Supreme commander
• Generalissimo
• Dominant force
• To preside over
• To govern

Related Idioms

• Giữ vai trò thống soái: to play the leading/commanding role.
  • Yếu tố chính trị giữ vai trò thống soái. (The political factor plays the commanding role.)