king of kings

See also: King of Kings

English

Etymology

Attested in Middle English as king of kinges. An ancient formula which seems to have originated in a Semitic language of the Ancient Near East; see Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠𐭭 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (šāhān-šāh, king of kings) for more.

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɪŋ ʌv ˌkɪŋz/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

king of kings (plural kings of kings)

  1. A king who has other kings as subjects; an emperor.
    Synonym: high king
    Hyponyms: maharajadhiraja, rajadhiraja, shahanshah
    • 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, →ISBN, page 379:
      He wants to be Ozymandias, King of Kings.

Translations

Proper noun

king of kings

  1. The title of an individual king who has other kings as subjects; in particular:
    Synonym: high king
    1. God.
      1. (Christianity) Jesus Christ.
        Synonym: Lord of Lords

See also