Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-08
Origin OF EnEliSh Titles.

Dean Trench, in one OF his excellent little vol
umes on the English language, remarks that
the names of living animals belonging to the
British islands show Saxon origin; but that
! the terms applied to their flesh, when used as
food, have been derived from Norman French,
the only exception being the word pork, which
is Saxon, while bacon is Norman. The reason
| assigned for this is that the Saxon tended the
creature while alive, and the Norman attended
to him afterwards. The same remark will
apply with equal truth to the titles which are
given to royalty and the different grades of no
Dility III England With two or three eXcep-
lions, they were all borrowed from foreign lam
guages, principally through that restless enter
pr!sing race commanded by the first William
But the common and endearing terms made
use of in our everyday speech, such as man.
woman; boy, girl; husband, wife, son, daughter;
their Saxon origin. The choice bits of language
like the flesh OF animals, We're thus reserved
for the CoEquerOr.
Another circumstance is equally worthy of
note. While most of the titles in common use
lave come to Us from the Latin, through the
French, nearly ali have lost their original sig
MITIGATION. At the commencement they con-
fcrred 10 mere honorary distinctions but were
expressive Of trust, duty, responsibility, mill
the case not Cnfy in the British Islands, but
wherever the feudaf system was established.
should stoop to adopt the language of the con-
qhered, for purposes that must have called into
existence corresponding words among them
selves; but this doubtless arose from the lack of
literary culture on the part OF the Northern
nations. With the religion of the subject race
they adopted in great part its Language, which
continued To- be the venicIe of thought Tor CEN
turtles, until Il new congl0merate speech had
been formed in each country of Western
Europe. 1t was mt 81 still later date that the
terms used to express titles und erwent their
alterations in meaning to what they now
bear. through the influence of social and politi-
cal changes, especially the creation OF standing
armies.
emperor" is not an English title, the Impe-
rial authority never having been established on
island. Everybody wi flo
fact that the Roman 1mperator simply a
commander OF the army, and that the word was
grasping greater power than the kingly had
the sagacity to sugar it over witl a very mild
cratic sentiment of his day: but, like many
another, only seeming In like manner Crom-
well had himself termed Protector of England
while his government became an unmiXed des-
pOtism. in course of time the Emperors Of
Rome retired from the direct command of their
armies; Lnt the title, implying unlimited power,
passed down to modern times From denoting
II mere military officer IL has come to express u
civil ruler, superior in dignity to the King. How
words,
In Germany the Emperor is often termed
kaisar, n word which is a corruption of the
Roman Cesar During the early history of the
Empire the terms Caesar, Augustus and EN-
peror seem to have been applied indiscrimi-
nately to the head oil that State; but at the com.
mcncement OF the fourth century the Cesar
came to be u secondary officer, acting under
command OF the Emperor, and preparing to
succeed Eiiii III the purple. AT q later date it
was restored to its secondary meaning, which it
still retains
king is Enthusiastically Saxon, as is also the
word Queen. The reason why u Norman title
was not preferred by William the COnqueror
arose from his having laid claim to the british
crown as the legal bcir instead Of Harold. The
Claim continued to be disputed long after the
battle OF Hastings, and the new monarchs chung
the more closely to the old title on that account
The saxon term was Cyns or Cynig; but q re-
semblancc has also been traced In the Celtic
word Caen and even the Oriental Khan. At
IN FINN lis1t
scription, but Is now used rather to designate
those whose authority is limited by the nobility
Prince is derived from a Latin word signi-
land has it been exclusively e applied hn e
this title ranks even below that of duke
Al one time, in our own language, it was FREE
nation and the principal officers who assisted ted
him in administering the government. In these
| senses its use in the Old Testament is very COM
where it was applied to the children OF mon
arch. Since the time OF Edward /. the kings
ond Edward was oven born in that principal
ity, In order to reconcile the Welsh people to
the English government more easily.
orders, which are respectively ranked thus:
Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. A
tee Of
indirectly from the Latin Dur, o leader OF
troops, but subordinate to the Emperor or King.
\ ouiCeT lle u6SlStSQ us rOy0l MAS.
| ter In conquering and retaining the country in
snblection; In return for which he received ex-
tensive estates. with muititudes OF vaxsals,
whom he was obliged to muster for the field
whenever his liege lord called upon him. But
changes IN society have altered oil this and
the Duke Is no longer Of necessity military
leader in any European country.
| The "MarQuisn was SO termed because he had
charge OF one Of the 'smalchesr or borders OF
the State, guarding it against attack from for.
eign Toes. The city OF Vienna was thus founded
Coming originally from the German smark. .
| the word passed into the Latin, French and
/ English languages. Owing to the circumsfance
stated above, that portion OF the Papal domin-
/ ions east OF the Apprentices Is TO this day known
] a. the March o. Ancona. the March or peaanrn