majesty English · revision 10296

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=fro majesté|origins=la maiestas|origins=ine-pro *meǵh₂-}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmæd͡ʒ.əs.ti/; /ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪs.tɪ/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English mageste, majeste, [[bor|fro|majesté|t=grandeur, nobility]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin maiestās, maiestātem, greatness, dignity, sovereign power,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from the stem of maior, the comparative of magnus, great (see [[major]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*meǵh₂-|alt=*meg-|t=great]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The greatness and glory of God: before 1300, the earliest use in English;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) dignity, magnificence, about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The dignity or greatness of a sovereign, sovereign power, is from 1375.^(OED 1989) As a title of address for kings and queens, ''your majesty'', it is from the late 14th century, from the Romance languages, and originated in the Roman Empire.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Kingly dignity of bearing, stateliness, is from 1531,^(OED 1989) and of natural objects or buildings, grandeur, from 1555.^(OED 1989) ''Majestic'' is from 1601, in Shakespeare's ''Julius Caesar''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – the glory of God.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1375 – sovereign dignity.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a royal title.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1531 – stately bearing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1555 – grandeur of things.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – majestic.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Great dignity or stateliness; [[grandeur]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Supreme authority or power.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(His, Her, Your Majesty)'' A title for a king or queen.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The sovereignty and power of God.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[majestic]]

+ * [[lese majesty]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[major]]

+ * [[magnitude]]

+ * [[mayor]]

+ * [[master]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Westmorland dialect, majesty meant a rage or passion.^(Wright 1898)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}