kingship
(ˈkɪŋʃɪp)
[f. king n. + -ship; cf. MDu. conincscap (Du. koningschap), G. königschaft. OE. had cynescipe (see kine-1). The early occurrence of the word in one MS. of Cursor Mundi is remarkable.]
1. The office and dignity of a king; the fact of being king; reign.
| c 1325 Cursor M. 8583 (Cott.) In his kingscip [Fairf., Trin. kingdome; Gött. king-riche] þe fourte [other MSS. forme, former] daus, O-mang his folk he sett his laus. 1642 Sir E. Dering Sp. Relig. 96 The Kingship and Priestship of every particular man. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. vii. 249 Immediately upon the decease of the reigning prince..his kingship or imperial dignity..is vested at once in his heir. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xiv. 374 The few days of life and kingship which still were his. |
| fig. 1865 Ruskin Sesame 121 The kingship..which consists in a stronger moral state..than that of others. |
2. The rule of a king; monarchical government.
| 1648 Eikon Bas. x. 78 They designed, and proposed to me the new modelling of Soveraignty and Kingship. 1692 South 12 Serm. (1697) I. 409 While his army believed him real in his Zeal against Kingship. 1840 Carlyle Heroes vi. In rebellious ages, when Kingship itself seems dead and abolished, Cromwell, Napoleon step forth again as Kings. |
3. With
poss. pron.: The personality of a king; (his) royal majesty. Also
fig.| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Past. Birth Pr. Chas., I a sheep⁓hook will bestow To have his little King-ship know, As he is prince, he's shepherd too. 1660 A. Sadler Subj. Joy 28 Though..his fifty Boyes Do run before his Kingship. 1832 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. XXXI. 870 Then shall we skirt his kingship [Scafell] all the way to the head of Seathwaite Tarn. 1861 P. B. Du Chaillu Equat. Afr. xii. 183 His ebony kingship. |
4. The dominion or territory of a king.
| 1864 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) II. 158 So long as countries are split into small kingships, and each valley has its chief. |