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| ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |
| [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] cyning; akin to Old High German kuning king, Old English cynn kin | | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] cyning; akin to Old High German kuning king, Old English cynn kin |
− | *Date: before [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century] | + | *Date: before [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1 a : a [[male]] monarch of a major territorial [[unit]]; especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life | | *1 a : a [[male]] monarch of a major territorial [[unit]]; especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life |
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| *6 : a checker that has been crowned | | *6 : a checker that has been crowned |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | A [[king]] is a head of [[state]], who may or may not, depending on the style of [[government]] of a [[nation]], exercise monarchal [[powers]] over a nation, usually called a kingdom or a realm. A king is the second highest [[sovereign]] title, only looking up to an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor emperor]. The [[female]] equivalent of king is queen; although the term "queen" may refer to one ruling as a monarch in her own right, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regnant queen regnant], or to the wife of a king, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_consort queen consort]. A queen who becomes the reigning monarch because the king has died, has become debilitated, or is a minor, is known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regent queen regent]. The [[husband]] of a queen regnant is sometimes styled the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_consort king consort] but is more commonly styled the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_consort prince consort]. A king or queen may wear a crown or carry other regalia ([[symbols]] of office). | + | A [[king]] is a head of [[state]], who may or may not, depending on the style of [[government]] of a [[nation]], exercise monarchal [[powers]] over a nation, usually called a kingdom or a realm. A king is the second highest [[sovereign]] title, only looking up to an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor emperor]. The [[female]] equivalent of king is queen; although the term "queen" may refer to one ruling as a monarch in her own right, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regnant queen regnant], or to the wife of a king, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_consort queen consort]. A queen who becomes the reigning monarch because the king has died, has become debilitated, or is a minor, is known as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regent queen regent]. The [[husband]] of a queen regnant is sometimes styled the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_consort king consort] but is more commonly styled the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_consort prince consort]. A king or queen may wear a crown or carry other regalia ([[symbols]] of office). |
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| Terms for kings can vary (Sumerian lugal, Semitic melech, Celtic rix, Latin rex, Greek basileus, Sanskrit raja, Germanic kuningaz) and in some cases can be a tribal leader or chief, or the tyrant of a city state. Tribal leaders continue to be referred to as king also into the modern period, e.g. Maquinna, king of perhaps 2000 Nootka people in the early 20th century. | | Terms for kings can vary (Sumerian lugal, Semitic melech, Celtic rix, Latin rex, Greek basileus, Sanskrit raja, Germanic kuningaz) and in some cases can be a tribal leader or chief, or the tyrant of a city state. Tribal leaders continue to be referred to as king also into the modern period, e.g. Maquinna, king of perhaps 2000 Nootka people in the early 20th century. |
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− | Often, the king will not only have a political function, but also a religious one, acting as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_priest high priest] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_king divine king]. | + | Often, the king will not only have a political function, but also a religious one, acting as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_priest high priest] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_king divine king]. |
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| In rare cases women have been crowned as kings instead of queens, such as Jadwiga of Poland and Christina of Sweden. | | In rare cases women have been crowned as kings instead of queens, such as Jadwiga of Poland and Christina of Sweden. |