divine right
/dɪˈvaɪn raɪt/
noun
Origin
Latin
divinus + rectus — pertaining to a god + straight, upright, or justified
Overview
Meaning Now
- A political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy, asserting that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God.
Literal older meaning
The right ordained or granted by a deity.
Language path
Latin → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
divine right of kings
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The concept was heavily utilized by monarchs like James I of England to consolidate power and bypass parliamentary oversight, suggesting that any attempt to depose the king was an act against God.
Evolution
- Latin
divinus
“of or belonging to a god”
- Middle English
divine
“godly, holy”
Derived from Old French devin.
- Early Modern English
divine right
“authority granted by God”
Formalized as a constitutional and theological concept.
Connections
Word parts
divine
root
godly
right
root
authority or claim
Related across languages
French
droit divin
divine right
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Related to divine right
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.