Royalty in Mind: A Diachronic Contrast in the Lexicogenesis of King-derived Formations in Medieval and Modern Times
Royalty in Mind: A Diachronic Contrast in the Lexicogenesis of King-derived Formations in Medieval and Modern Times

Summary/Abstract: This study examines a diachronic evolution of king-based lexical formations, focusing on their semantic and morphological productivity from Old English to the present. Using Cognitive Metaphor Theory, diachronic lexical semantics, and data from the Oxford English Dictionary, the analysis tracks over 250 formations, highlighting compounding as the primary mechanism of lexical innovation. Notably, over 95% of king-derived lexical innovations result from compounding, yielding both endocentric and exocentric constructions. Findings reveal that while king originally functioned as a marker of political authority, the lexicogenesis in which it was involved shifted the term into diverse new conceptual domains, including ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, SOCIETY, and COMMERCE. Medieval formations reinforced hierarchy, while the 16th–17th centuries saw more metaphorical coinages extending into nature, festivities, and commerce. These findings link socio-political changes, especially the decline of absolute monarchy and the rise of parliamentary governance, to the semantic evolution of the lexeme king.

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