King's English
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See also: king's English
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Noun[edit]
- (often preceded by the) Especially in England, spoken or written English which is standard, characterised by grammatical correctness, proper usage of words and expressions, and (when spoken) formal British pronunciation.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 42, column 1:
- 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 will be an old abuſing of Gods patience, and the Kings Engliſh.
- 1823, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 13, in The Pioneers:
- "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?"
- 1921, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 14, in The Efficiency Expert:
- 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.
- 2006 November 5, James Gleick, “Cyber-Neologoliferation”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Aug. 2010:
- The O.E.D. is unlike any other dictionary. . . . It wants every word, all the lingo: idioms and euphemisms, sacred or profane, dead or alive, the King’s English or the street’s.
Usage notes[edit]
- King's English is used when the reigning monarch is male. When the monarch is female, Queen's English is commonly used instead.