sovereign, the emperor, god, creator
帝 centers on the highest ruling authority: a sovereign, the emperor, or a divine creator. The god sense is an extension of supreme power, not a separate unrelated meaning.
帝 originally depicted an altar or a stand for offerings, later associated with the supreme ruler who performs rites to heaven. The modern form retains the altar-like shape with 巾 at the base.
The top part looks like a crown or ceremonial headdress, and the bottom 巾 is a cloth or robe. Together they form the image of an emperor in full regalia, the ultimate sovereign.
For テイ, imagine the emperor sipping tea (ティー) on his throne: tea -> テイ, and the emperor's authority is absolute.
empire
emperor
emperor (of Japan); mikado
Empire of Japan (Japan's official name under the Meiji Constitution)
sovereign; emperor; monarch
Roman Empire
great emperor; ... the Great
empress
imperial capital
Caesarean section; Cesarean section; C-section
imperial government; imperialism; monarchical rule
Teijin
imperial capital
Teikyo University (abbr)
Teikyo University
virtuous emperor
Imperial Theatre (Tokyo)
Teikoku Databank, Ltd
Shangdi (supreme deity in ancient Chinese religion)
Śakra (Deva); Shakra; Indra; Shakra Devanam Indra; the king of heaven in Hindu mythology