Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER
Sep 10, 2025
Discover the fascinating etymologies of powerful titles like 'lord', 'queen', and 'emperor'. Uncover how 'Caesar' evolved into a symbol of authority across Europe. Learn what 'pharaoh' meant to the ancient Egyptians and the unique histories of terms like 'timocracy' and 'kakistocracy'. Delve into how language mirrors historical power dynamics, and enjoy humorous anecdotes that weave together politics, governance, and even dried fruits like sultanas and currants!
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King, Kinship, And Kingdom Meaning
- The English word king stems from Old English kuning and is tied to kinship, not just authority.
- Kingdom’s -dom meant 'law' or 'judgment', so kingdom originally implied a king's legal authority.
Queen Started As 'Woman' Or 'Wife'
- Old English queen meant 'woman' or 'wife' and comes from the same Proto-Indo-European root as Greek gynē.
- The title shifted from 'wife/poetic woman' to female ruler because queens often began as kings' wives.
Real Stories Behind Royal Epithets
- Rob and Jess recount famous royal epithets like William the Conqueror and Æthelred the Unready and explain their real meanings.
- Æthelred's 'Unready' actually means 'ill-advised', creating a pun against his given name meaning 'well-advised'.
