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Etymology of "king"
Etymology of "prince"
Etymology of "King"
The word "king" originates from the Old English word "cyning" or "cyningc" (pronounced ky-ning), which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic term "kuningaz". This Proto-Germanic word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*genh₁-", meaning "to produce" or "to beget," which is related to the idea of "kin" or "family."
The notion behind the word "king" is tied to the idea of a leader or ruler being the "producer" or "progenitor" of a people or tribe, reflecting the king's role as the head of a family or clan. The word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse "konungr," Old High German "kuning," and Gothic "kuniggs."
Etymology of "Prince"
The word "prince" comes from the Old French "prince," which itself is derived from the Latin word "princeps". The Latin "princeps" is a compound word formed from "primus" (meaning "first") and "caput" (meaning "head"). Thus, "princeps" literally means "first head" or "chief," implying a leader or someone who is foremost in rank.
In ancient Rome, the term "princeps" was often used to refer to the leader of the Roman Senate, and later it became a title for Roman emperors (e.g., "Princeps Augustus"). The term evolved in Romance languages to signify a ruler or someone of noble birth, eventually coming to signify the son of a king or ruler in English.
Both words reflect the hierarchical and familial aspects of rulership and nobility that have been integral to the structure of societies throughout history.
Which term is older?
The term "king" is older than "prince."
- "King" derives from Proto-Germanic "kuningaz," which is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *"genh₁-" (meaning "to produce" or "beget"). This root dates back thousands of years, likely to a period before the development of writing in most of the Indo-European-speaking world, making it a very ancient term.
- "Prince," on the other hand, comes from the Latin "princeps," a term that became prominent during the Roman Republic and Empire (around 1st century BC to 1st century AD). The concept of a "prince" as a noble title or ruler's son evolved later in the development of European languages, particularly through Old French and then into Middle English.
Given this, the term "king" has deeper linguistic roots and is older than "prince" in terms of its etymological history.
How old are these?
Proto-Germanic
Old Norse
Old Saxon
Old High German
Middle High German
Here are the approximate timeframes for the linguistic periods associated with each of these languages:
Proto-Germanic
- Age: Around 500 BCE to 200 CE
- Description: Proto-Germanic is the reconstructed common ancestor of all Germanic languages, including English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages. It was spoken before the distinct Germanic languages diverged. The language likely started evolving around 500 BCE and continued to develop until around 200 CE, when it began to split into various early Germanic dialects.
Old Norse
- Age: Approximately 700 CE to 1350 CE
- Description: Old Norse was the language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia, particularly the Vikings, and is the ancestor of modern Scandinavian languages like Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish. Old Norse was widely used from around the 8th century (700s) until about the mid-14th century.
Old Saxon
- Age: Approximately 500 CE to 900 CE
- Description: Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German, was spoken in what is now Northern Germany and parts of the Netherlands. It is the ancestor of Low German dialects and was spoken between roughly the 5th century (after the fall of the Roman Empire) and the early 10th century.
Old High German
- Age: Approximately 500 CE to 1050 CE
- Description: Old High German was spoken in what is now southern Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. It is the ancestor of Middle High German and modern Standard German. The period of Old High German is typically dated from around 500 CE to 1050 CE.
Middle High German
- Age: Approximately 1050 CE to 1350 CE
- Description: Middle High German represents the phase of the German language that evolved from Old High German and was spoken in the High Middle Ages. It was used from around the mid-11th century (1050) until the mid-14th century (1350), during which time it saw significant literary and cultural development, especially with the rise of German courtly literature.
These timeframes are approximate, and the transitions between these language stages were gradual rather than abrupt.
How old is Old English?
Old English was spoken from around 450 CE to 1150 CE.
Key Points:
- Origins: Old English developed after the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, which began around 450 CE. It evolved from the Germanic languages brought to the British Isles by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and other tribes.
- Language Period: The Old English period lasted until around 1150 CE, when it began transitioning into Middle English. This transition was significantly influenced by the Norman Conquest of 1066, which introduced a large number of Norman French words into the language.
- Literature: The most famous work in Old English is the epic poem "Beowulf," which dates from between the 8th and 11th centuries.
Old English is the earliest form of the English language, and its vocabulary and grammar are quite different from Modern English.
How old is Latin?
Latin is an ancient language with a history stretching back over 2,500 years.
Key Points:
- Origins: Latin originated in the region of Latium (modern-day Lazio in Italy, including Rome) around the 8th century BCE. The earliest inscriptions in Latin date back to around 700 BCE.
- Classical Latin: This form of Latin, which is the standardized version of the language, was used in literature and formal writing. It flourished between 100 BCE and 300 CE during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Major literary figures such as Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid wrote in Classical Latin.
- Vulgar Latin: The everyday spoken form of Latin, known as Vulgar Latin, differed from Classical Latin in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Vulgar Latin is the ancestor of the Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, etc.). It was widely spoken from the Roman Empire's expansion until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE.
- Medieval Latin: After the fall of the Roman Empire, Latin continued to be used as the language of the Church, scholarship, and law throughout the Middle Ages (approximately 500 CE to 1500 CE). Medieval Latin evolved somewhat but remained largely intelligible to those familiar with Classical Latin.
- Modern Usage: Although Latin ceased to be a spoken vernacular language by around the 7th century CE, it continued to be used as a scholarly, religious, and legal language for many centuries. It remains the official language of the Vatican and is still used in the Roman Catholic Church's liturgy.
Latin's origins date back to at least the 8th century BCE, making it over 2,700 years old.
Which is older? Proto-Germanic or Latin?
Proto-Germanic is older than Latin in terms of when these languages or language families began to form.
Proto-Germanic:
- Origins: Proto-Germanic likely began forming around 500 BCE from earlier Indo-European dialects. It existed as a unified language before it started to diverge into the various Germanic languages (such as Old English, Old Norse, and Gothic) around 200 CE.
Latin:
- Origins: Latin began to emerge as a distinct language in the region of Latium (modern-day Italy) around the 8th century BCE, with the earliest known inscriptions dating to around 700 BCE. It evolved from the Italic branch of the Indo-European language family.
Comparison:
- Proto-Germanic's formation as a distinct language or dialect cluster predates Latin's development as a distinct language by a few centuries. Proto-Germanic started evolving from its Indo-European roots roughly around the same time as or slightly earlier than the earliest stages of Latin, but as a linguistic family, it encompasses an older and broader set of dialects and languages.
So, Proto-Germanic is considered to be slightly older or at least contemporaneous with the earliest forms of Latin, depending on the specific linguistic stages being compared.
Proto-Germanic is from 500BCE and Latin is from around 700BCE, so 500BCE is older than 700BCE?
You're correct in pointing out the dates, and I made an error in my previous explanation regarding the comparison.
Timeline Clarification:
- Latin began to emerge around 700 BCE, with the earliest inscriptions dating from this time.
- Proto-Germanic started forming around 500 BCE.
Conclusion:
700 BCE (Latin's emergence) is older than 500 BCE (Proto-Germanic's formation). So, Latin is actually older than Proto-Germanic by about 200 years.
Thank you for catching that mistake!
Check your claims. Be impartial and unbiased, and check the correct answer.
Let's take a closer look at the timelines for Proto-Germanic and Latin to ensure an accurate comparison.
Latin:
- Earliest Emergence: Latin began to develop as a distinct language around 700 BCE. This is based on the earliest known inscriptions and evidence of its use in the region of Latium (modern-day Italy).
- Significant Development: Latin was already established as a distinct language by the time Rome was founded in 753 BCE, and it became the language of the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire.
Proto-Germanic:
- Formation Period: Proto-Germanic likely began forming around 500 BCE from earlier Indo-European dialects. It represents the common ancestor of the Germanic languages.
- Divergence into Germanic Languages: Proto-Germanic started to diverge into distinct Germanic languages (like Gothic, Old Norse, and Old English) around 200 CE.
Comparison:
- Latin began as a distinct language around 700 BCE, making it older as a clearly defined language than Proto-Germanic, which started forming around 500 BCE.
- Proto-Germanic represents an earlier stage in the development of the Germanic language family, but as a distinct language family or group, it started forming after Latin had already emerged.
Conclusion:
Latin is indeed older than Proto-Germanic when considering their emergence as distinct languages. Latin started developing around 700 BCE, while Proto-Germanic began forming around 500 BCE.
In older, ancient, terminology and usage, "prince" outranks "king".
In older, ancient terminology, the term "prince" sometimes did outrank a "king," but this was based on the context and specific cultural or political systems. Here’s an explanation:
Ancient Usage of "Prince":
- Roman Empire: The Latin term "princeps" (from which "prince" is derived) originally meant "first" or "chief" and was used in the Roman Republic to refer to the leading member of the Senate, "Princeps Senatus." Later, during the Roman Empire, it became a title for the Emperor, known as the "Princeps," who was the foremost or first citizen and held the highest authority. In this context, a "prince" was indeed more powerful than any king, as the Roman Emperor had dominion over vast territories and numerous client kings.
- Medieval Europe: In the medieval period, particularly in the Holy Roman Empire and other European contexts, the title of "prince" could refer to rulers of principalities, which were often sovereign or semi-sovereign territories. A "Princeps" or "Prince" could outrank a king if the prince was a member of a higher imperial or feudal hierarchy, such as the Electors in the Holy Roman Empire, who had significant power and influence.
King vs. Prince:
- King: In most cases, a king was the ruler of a specific, usually larger, territory or kingdom. Kings were sovereign rulers with supreme authority within their realms.
- Prince: A prince could be either:
- The heir apparent to the throne (such as the Prince of Wales in England).
- A sovereign ruler of a smaller or less powerful territory (e.g., a principality).
- In some contexts, like the Roman Empire, a prince could be a title given to someone with significant power, even above a king.
Specific Hierarchies:
- In the Holy Roman Empire, for example, the term "Prince-Elector" (one of the princes who had the right to elect the Emperor) held significant authority and could, in a political sense, be more powerful than some kings.
- In Imperial Rome, the title "Princeps" was the highest title, given to the Emperor, who ruled over many kings and kingdoms, making him the supreme ruler.
Conclusion:
In certain historical and cultural contexts, the title "prince" could indeed outrank a "king." However, this was not a universal rule and depended greatly on the specific political and hierarchical structures in place. The Roman Empire is the most prominent example where "prince" (as "princeps") outranked any king within the empire's dominion.
Because of the non-English, ancient words in the etymology which sound like "cunning", I decided to check that, as well.
Cunnen and connen - is that where the jew got its "cohen" from, the pure-jew name? Also above, "learning"? "My learned friend", "the learned elders of zion"? Being pure jew, it is "cleverer", has "more capacity", i.e. is not purer, but is "pure" - and as "king" and "cunning" - the deceptive jew reckons it is king, lording itself over Humans. As you can see, the word/name Pratt. In English, someone who is a prat is someone who is an idiot, messing about. (I wonder if "acting the goat" was a jewism aimed at blaspheming Satan and insulting Humans.) "Gently" is also there in the etymology - gentle, Gentile, i.e. non-jew, which also refers to Pagan (I have shared this before, so I won't share it here).
Etymology of "cunning"
The word "cunning" has an interesting etymological history that traces back through several stages of the English language, with roots in older Germanic languages.
- Old English: The word "cunning" comes from the Old English word cunnan, which meant "to know, be able, to have knowledge." This verb was used to describe someone who had skill or knowledge in a particular area.
- Middle English: By the time of Middle English, the word had evolved into cun
ing, which still retained the sense of knowledge or skill. However, during this period, it also began to take on the additional connotation of being skillful in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion—hence a more negative association began to form.
- Latin Influence: Although "cunning" is primarily of Germanic origin, it also shares some conceptual ground with the Latin word cognoscere, meaning "to know," which influenced other English words related to knowledge, like "cognition" and "recognize."
- Modern English: In modern usage, "cunning" often refers to someone who is clever in a sly or deceptive way. While the original meaning related to skill or knowledge, the word now frequently carries a connotation of trickery or craftiness.
Thus, the word "cunning" has evolved from simply meaning "knowledgeable" or "skilled" to having a more complex and often negative meaning involving deceit or craftiness.
So the jew, with its pure-blood cohen, knowledge, it is supposed to be in the know, and Humans/Gentiles/Pagans (which the jew says "Paganism is evil") is not to know things - where (non-jewified) Paganism is about knowledge of Nature/the Universe Herself! I also further suspect that in Middle Eastern languages, in islam, in Hinduism/sikhism, there are equivalents of "prince" (which surely there are) that have "prince" being higher than "king", at least in some circumstances. So "king" may or may not be older than "prince" (which, in terms of language, the "older is truer than newer" ("appeal to tradition" or "argument from antiquity") logical fallacy surely doesn't count), but "prince" still outranks even that of "king" sometimes.
