sovereign English · revision 14902

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=la super}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɒv.ər.ɪn/, /ˈsɒv.rɪn/, US /ˈsɑːv.rən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|soverain]], [[bor|fro|soverain|t=highest, supreme, ruler]] (modern [[fr|souverain]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*superānus|t=chief, principal]], from [[la|super|t=over, above]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*uper|t=over]].^(Etymonline) The same Vulgar Latin word gave [[es|soberano]] and [[it|soprano]].^(Etymonline) The spelling with g, soveraigne in 1357 and sovereign about 1378 in Piers Plowman, comes from association with [[reign]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) Milton printed it sovran, as if from Italian.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A superior, ruler, lord or master: about 1280 in Barnhart, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A king or queen, a recognized supreme ruler, is from about 1300.^(Etymonline) The adjective meant great or supreme from the early 14th century, and having supreme power from the mid-14th.^(Etymonline) The gold coin was first minted under Henry VII and was worth 22s. 6d.;^(Cresswell 2021) it is recorded from the late 15th century, and its value became one pound in 1817.^(Etymonline) In 17th- and 18th-century political writing the sovereign could be the people as the source of power, as opposed to a monarch.^(Etymonline) Sovereignty is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – a ruler, master.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a king or queen.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – supreme (adjective).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1357 – soveraigne.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 15th century – a gold coin.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1817 – the pound sovereign.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who holds supreme authority, especially a [[monarch]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A former British gold coin worth one [[pound]].^(Collins 2023)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Self-governing and independent: ''a sovereign state''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having supreme rank or power.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[paramount|alt=Paramount]]; supreme.^(AHD)

+ # Of a remedy, of outstanding effect: ''a sovereign remedy''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sovereignly]]

+ * [[nonsovereign]]

+ * [[undersovereign]]

+ * [[unsovereign]]

+ * [[sovereignty]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[super-]]

+ * [[soprano]]

+ * [[superior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}