king's English
noun
standard, educated, or correct English speech or usage, especially of England.
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king's English
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King's English
King's Englishnoun(esp when the British sovereign is male) standard Southern British English
king's English
Americannoun
King's English
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of king's English
First recorded in 1545–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He, however, is so wrapped up in his studies of phonetics that his only interest in Eliza is her appalling command of the king's English.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2011
This book makes no more sense than the king's English, but it projects the same fey charm.
From Time Magazine Archive
Episcopalians seem to be polls apart It was in 1549 that the Church of England forsook the Latin liturgy and began worshiping in the king's English.
From Time Magazine Archive
It shows that until about 40 years before Abraham Lincoln entered public life, the Lincolns were a wealthy and distinguished family of ironmasters who spoke the king's English.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Besides," added he, "between you and I, she murders the king's English abominably; so she has acted the part of a wise woman in holding her tongue, and trusting to her pretty face."
From Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving
The King's English and Cockney are no longer common dialects among young people in the South East of England, according to a new study.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2023
The Brontës’ novels are stuffed full of dialect, and Heathcliff hardly speaks the King’s English.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 16, 2019
In The King’s English, the Fowler brothers counseled against Americanisms, but expressed envy over fall:
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2018
So for now, the King’s English is still in business, and Ms. Burton and her employees have kept their insurance.
From New York Times ● Sep. 17, 2010
Its language supposedly represents the ultimate in using the King’s English.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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