rheims: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “rheims” mean?
A variant spelling of 'Reims', the name of a city in northeastern France, renowned for its cathedral.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A variant spelling of 'Reims', the name of a city in northeastern France, renowned for its cathedral.
Historically used in English to refer to the city or its cathedral; also associated with 'Rheims and Douai Bible', an English Catholic translation of the Vulgate produced in these cities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare in both variants. 'Reims' is the standard modern spelling in geographical contexts.
Connotations
Carries historical and religious connotations, particularly for readers of early modern English religious history.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary usage, found almost exclusively in specialized historical or theological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “rheims” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] as a location (e.g., 'the coronation in Rheims')[Proper Noun] as a modifier (e.g., 'the Rheims edition')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rheims” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Rheims translation was influential.
- A Rheims manuscript
American English
- The Rheims version of the Bible.
- Rheims glassmaking traditions
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, or art history contexts discussing medieval France or early Bible translations.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation. The modern 'Reims' might be mentioned in travel contexts.
Technical
Used as a proper noun in cartography, historical scholarship, and religious studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rheims”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rheims”
- Misspelling as 'Rheimes' or 'Reims' when citing historical texts that use the 'Rheims' spelling.
- Mispronouncing the 'Rh-' as /rə/ instead of /riː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Rheims' is an archaic English spelling. The correct modern spelling, following French usage, is 'Reims'.
It was the traditional coronation site for kings of France and is the location of a magnificent Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims.
It refers to the English translation of the Vulgate (the Rheims-Douai Bible) produced by Catholic scholars in the cities of Rheims and Douai in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
It is pronounced exactly like the modern 'Reims': /riːmz/ (reemz). The 'h' is silent.
A variant spelling of 'Reims', the name of a city in northeastern France, renowned for its cathedral.
Rheims is usually formal, historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Rhymes with dreams, the cathedral in Rheims.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A SEAT OF POWER (as the traditional site for the coronation of French kings).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Rheims' primarily known as?