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Where does the word "throne" come from? It comes from Greek thronos, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "throne" come from? It comes from Greek thronos, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Throne’s story begins in Greek: thronos meant “elevated seat.” A Greek word for a chair of state. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trone. The 'h' was restored from Latin in the 1500s. It reached English by 1200s as throne. 'the throne' also means royal power itself. Today, throne means a ceremonial chair for a monarch.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient thronos "elevated seat", a Greek word for a chair of state.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval trone "royal seat", the 'h' was restored from Latin in the 1500s.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s throne "a royal seat", 'the throne' also means royal power itself.