king's evil
Very LowHistorical / Archaic / Literary
Definition
Meaning
A historical term for scrofula, a form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes of the neck, once believed to be curable by the touch of a monarch.
A term used historically to refer to any disease or affliction thought to be healed by royal touch; by extension, sometimes used metaphorically for a persistent, deep-seated societal or institutional malady.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively historical. Its use in modern contexts is rare, typically found in historical texts, literature, or metaphorical extensions discussing persistent, 'incurable' problems. The possessive 'king's' reflects the monarch's supposed healing power.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic in both varieties. The concept is more historically resonant in the UK due to the monarchy's history of 'touching for the evil'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes antiquity, superstition, and historical medicine. It may carry a slightly more immediate historical weight in British English due to local monarchical history.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from + king's evilbe touched for + king's evila cure for + king's evilVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. The term itself functions almost idiomatically.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or medical history papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Obsolete in modern medicine; used only in historical contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is not a common word today.
- 'King's evil' is an old name for a neck disease.
- In medieval times, people believed the king's touch could cure the king's evil.
- The historian described the ritual of touching for the king's evil as a potent piece of political theatre, reinforcing the monarch's divine right.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a KING touching a sick person's neck to EVIL-ect (evict) the disease.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN EVIL ENTITY (that can be expelled by sovereign power).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'королевское зло'. The standard historical translation is 'золотуха' (scrofula).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a contemporary medical term.
- Misspelling as 'kings evil' without the apostrophe.
- Confusing it with other historical diseases like 'the pox'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'king's evil' a historical term for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an entirely historical and archaic term. The modern medical term is scrofula or tuberculous lymphadenitis.
Because it was once widely believed that the disease could be cured by the touch of a reigning monarch, a practice known as the 'royal touch'.
Yes, though rarely. It can be used in literary or rhetorical contexts to describe a deep-seated, persistent problem in an institution or society, e.g., 'Corruption was the kingdom's political king's evil.'
No, the term was 'king's evil' regardless of the monarch's gender. Queens who performed the healing rite were also said to be touching for the king's evil.