King and Kin Come From the Same Root
A king is a male monarch. The word originally meant a man of the family or tribe.
A king is a male monarch, ruling by hereditary right. Old English *cyning* is built from *cyn*, kin or family, with a suffix meaning belonging to — so a king was a man of the kindred, the one who represented the family or tribe. Authority came from descent rather than from conquest or office. The Latin *rex* took a different route into English, giving *royal*, *regal* and *reign* while the native word kept the title itself.
- A male monarch. *The king's speech.*
- Kin — the same root. *Kin.*
- Kingdom. *A kingdom.*
- Royal — from Latin instead. *Royal.*
- Old English — *cyning*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | king | A king. |
| Plural | kings | Kings. |
| Feminine | queen | A queen. |
| Compound | kingdom | A kingdom. |
| Old English | cyning | A king. |
- The king signed the charter.Monarch.
- Cyn means kin.Etymology.
- Royal comes from Latin.Comparison.
Native and Latin words for rule
- King — native English, from kin
- Royal, regal, reign — from Latin *rex*
- Queen — from a word meaning woman or wife
- Crown — from Latin *corona*, a wreath
- Throne — from Greek *thronos*, a seat
Old English *cyning*, from *cyn*, kin or family, with a suffix meaning belonging to.
Are king and kin related?
Yes. Old English cyning was built from cyn, meaning family, so a king was the man representing the kindred.
Where do royal and regal come from?
From Latin rex, which entered English through French, while the native word king kept the title itself.