Where does “King's English” come from?
King's English (English) comes from English English, from French French, from English French, from Middle English French, from Old English Frenċisċ, from Old English Franca, from Proto-West Germanic frankō, from Proto-Germanic frankô — pole, stalk.
King's English (English): Often preceded by the: spoken or written English regarded as used and safeguarded by the King of England; standard English characterized by correct grammar and what is thought of as proper usage of words and expressions, and (when spoken) formal British pronunciation
Definitions
- Often preceded by the: spoken or written English regarded as used and safeguarded by the King of England; standard English characterized by correct grammar and what is thought of as proper usage of words and expressions, and (when spoken) formal British pronunciation
Ancestry of “King's English”, step by step
King's English traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English English
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | English | Of or pertaining to England; English-language; of... |
| 2 | French | French | — |
| 3 | English | French | The people of France; groups of French people;... |
| 4 | Middle English | French | — |
| 5 | Old English | Frenċisċ | Frankish |
| 6 | Old English | Franca | Frank, Frenchman; a Frank |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | frankō | spear, javelin; a Frank |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | frankô | spear, javelin; a Frank |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | prAng- | pole, stalk |
via English King
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | King | radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter K |
| 2 | Middle English | king | king monarch |
| 3 | Old English | cyning | king |
| 4 | Old English | tūn | enclosure, yard; place; dwelling |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | tūn | fence |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | tūną | fence; enclosure |
| 7 | Gaulish | dunum | fort; hill, hillfort |
| 8 | Proto-Celtic | dūnom | stronghold, rampart |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |