Majesty
/ˈmædʒ.əs.ti/noun
Sovereign power, dignity, or grandeur, especially that of a monarch.
Did you know?Majesty descends from Latin *maiestas*, a term for greatness or dignity tied to *maior* (“greater”), the same ancient root behind words of increase and superiority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meg-
“to be great, big”
Latin
Latin
maior
“greater”
Latin
Latin
maiestas
“greatness, dignity, sovereignty”
Old French
Old French
majesté
“dignity, grandeur, sovereign power”
Middle English
English
majestee
“sovereign dignity or grandeur”
Modern English
English
majesty
“sovereign power, dignity, or grandeur, especially that of a monarch”