The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Scepter \Scep"ter\, Sceptre \Scep"tre\, n. [F. sceptre, L.
   sceptrum, from Gr. ? a staff to lean upon, a scepter;
   probably akin to E. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a
   stem, shaft.]
   1. A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial
      badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace.
      [1913 Webster]

            And the king held out Esther the golden scepter that
            was in his hand.                      --Esther v. 2.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence, royal or imperial power or authority; sovereignty;
      as, to assume the scepter.
      [1913 Webster]

            The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a
            lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come.
                                                  --Gen. xlix.
                                                  10.
      [1913 Webster] Scepter

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Scepter \Scep"ter\, Sceptre \Scep"tre\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Scepteredor Sceptred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scepteringor
   Sceptring.]
   To endow with the scepter, or emblem of authority; to invest
   with royal authority.
   [1913 Webster]

         To Britain's queen the sceptered suppliant bends.
                                                  --Tickell.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

scepter
    n 1: the imperial authority symbolized by a scepter [syn:
         scepter, sceptre]
    2: a ceremonial or emblematic staff [syn: scepter, sceptre,
       verge, wand]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

SCEPTER, n.  A king's staff of office, the sign and symbol of his
authority.  It was originally a mace with which the sovereign
admonished his jester and vetoed ministerial measures by breaking the
bones of their proponents.