King's english
name ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 the approved pronunciation of British English; originally based on the King's English as spoken at public schools and at Oxford and Cambridge Universities (and widely accepted elsewhere in Britain); until recently it was the pronunciation of English used in British broadcasting wordnet
- 1 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. England, uncountable
"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."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of King's English. alt-of, uncountable
""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[…]?["]"
Example
More examples"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."
Etymology
From King + -’s + English, possibly modelled after king's coin. See the quotation from 1553.