American Dictionary of the English Language

Dictionary Search

King


KING, noun

1. The chief or sovereign of a nation; a man invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country; a monarch. Kings are absolute monarchs, when they possess the powers of government without control, or the entire sovereignty over a nation; they are limited monarchs, when their power is restrained by fixed laws; and they are absolute, when they possess the whole legislative, judicial, and executive power, or when the legislative or judicial powers, or both, are vested in other bodies of men. Kings are hereditary sovereigns, when they hold the powers of government by right of birth or inheritance, and elective, when raised to the throne by choice.

KINGs will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.

2. A sovereign; a prince; a ruler. Christ is called the king of his church. Psalms 2:6

3. A card having the picture of a king; as the king of diamonds.

4. The chief piece in the game of chess.

KING at arms, an officer in England of great antiquity, and formerly of great authority, whose business is to direct the heralds, preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of armory. There are three kings at arms, vix.garter, clarencieux, and norroy. The latter [northroy] officiates north of the Trent.

KING, verb transitive In ludicrous language, to supply with a king or to make royal; to raise to royalty.