king's english
/kɪŋz‿ˈɪŋ(ɡ)lɪʃ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.00 in modern English
21
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
name
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.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Some ſeke ſo farre for outlãdiſhe [outlandish] Engliſhe, that thei forget altogether their mothers lãguage [language]. And I dare ſwere this, if ſome of their mothers were aliue, thei were not able to tell, what thei ſay, & yet theſe fine Engliſhe clerkes, wil ſaie thei ſpeake in their mother tongue, if a mã [man] ſhould charge thẽ [them] for coũterfeityng [counterfeiting] the kynges Engliſh."
- "What, Iohn Rugby, I pray thee goe to the Caſement, and ſee if you can ſee my Maſter, Maſter Docter Caius comming: if he doe (I'faith) and finde any body in the houſe; here vvill be an old abuſing of Gods patience, and the Kings Engliſh."
- ""Spake it out, man," exclaimed the landlady; "spake it out in king's English; what for should ye be talking Indian in a room full of christian folks[…]?["]"
- "I venture to say that in a fifteen-minute conversation he would commit more horrible crimes against the king's English than even that new stable-boy of yours."
- "The O.E.D. [Oxford English Dictionary] is unlike any other dictionary, in any language. […] It wants every word, all the lingo: idioms and euphemisms, sacred or profane, dead or alive, the King's English or the street's."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
- Root: *ǵenh₁-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kɪŋz‿ˈɪŋ(ɡ)lɪʃ/
- British English: /kɪŋz‿ˈɪŋ(ɡ)lɪʃ/
Usage
Inflected Forms
the king's English (canonical)