King of Kings
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In the Prayer Book the term, of course, refers to the Deity, but it has been assumed by many Eastern rulers, especially by the sovereigns of Abyssinia.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “King of Kings” mean?
In the Prayer Book the term, of course, refers to the Deity, but it has been assumed by many Eastern rulers, especially by the sovereigns of Abyssinia.
Is “King of Kings” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.