Arthur
English
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɑːθə(ɹ)/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɑɹθɚ/
- (dialectal, archaic) IPA(key): /ˈɑːɹtəɹ/[1]
- Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)θə(ɹ)
Etymology 1
From the name of the legendary king, from Middle English Arthure, from Medieval Latin Arthurus, probably from Welsh arth (“bear”), from Proto-Celtic *artos (“bear”). Other suggestions include Old Welsh arth (“bear”) and ur (“man”), or a Latinized (Romano-British) name; cf. Latin Artorius, possibly of Etruscan origin ultimately.
Proper noun
Arthur
- A male given name from the Celtic languages.
- c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene ii]:: Act IV, Scene II:
- Young Arthur is alive: this hand of mine / Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand, / Not painted with the crimson spots of blood.
- 1951 Graham Greene, The End of the Affair, Viking Press, page 96:
- "Is his name Arthur?" "Arthur James." "It’s quite an old-fashioned name." "We’re an old-fashioned family. His mother was fond of Tennyson."
- 1966, Patrick White, The Solid Mandala, Avon Books, published 1975, →ISBN, page 270:
- "It will not be his only name," Mr. Saporta said, and his glance hoped he had found an acceptable solution. "We shall also call him 'Aaron'. That will be his Jewish name. But for everyday purposes—Arthur."
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- A surname originating as a patronymic.
- A village in Illinois
- A city in Iowa
- A rural municipality of Manitoba, Canada
- A village, the county seat of Arthur County, Nebraska.
- A ghost town in Nevada
- A city in North Dakota
- A town and community in Wisconsin
Usage notes
- In continuous use as a given name since early Middle Ages. Popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Derived terms
- Arthur County
- Arthur Daley
- Arthurian
- arthurite
- Arthur's Pass
- Port Arthur
- Art
- Artie
- Arty
Related terms
- King Arthur
Translations
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References
- Hall, Joseph Sargent (March 2, 1942), “3. The Consonants”, in The Phonetics of Great Smoky Mountain Speech (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 4), New York: King's Crown Press, DOI:, →ISBN, § 2, page 89.
Etymology 2
After Arthur Guinness, a famous brewer.
Noun
Arthur (uncountable)
- (Ireland, informal) Guinness stout.
Usage notes
- Often said as a "pint of Arthur".
(Arthurian legend)
Anagrams
- turrah
Cebuano
Etymology
From English Arthur.
Proper noun
Arthur
- a male given name from English
Danish
Etymology
From English.
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name from English
Dutch
Etymology
Ultimately from Middle French Arthur.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɑrtyr/, [ˈɑrtyːr]
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: Ar‧thur
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name from English
Derived terms
- Arthurroman
French
Etymology
Equivalent to English Arthur, used in France since the Middle Ages.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aʁ.tyʁ/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -yʁ
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name
- 1862 Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, Vol.1, Book 4:1, translation 1887 by Isabel F. Hapgood:
- Il n’est pas rare aujourd’hui que le garçon bouvier se nomme Arthur, Alfred ou Alphonse, et que le vicomte — s’il y a encore des vicomtes — se nomme Thomas, Pierre ou Jacques. Ce déplacement qui met le nom « élégant » sur le plébéien et le nom campagnard sur l’aristocrate n’est autre chose qu’un remous d’égalité. L’irrésistible pénétration du souffle nouveau est là comme en tout.
- It is not rare for the neatherd's boy nowadays to bear the name of Arthur, Alfred, or Alphonse, and for the vicomte--if there are still any vicomtes--to be called Thomas, Pierre, or Jacques. This displacement, which places the "elegant" name on the plebeian and the rustic name on the aristocrat, is nothing else than an eddy of equality. The irresistible penetration of the new inspiration is there as everywhere else.
- 1862 Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, Vol.1, Book 4:1, translation 1887 by Isabel F. Hapgood:
Related terms
- Thureau
Descendants
- Arabic: آرثر
- Japanese: アルテュール (Arutyūru)
German
Alternative forms
- Artur
Etymology
Borrowed from English in the 18th century.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name from English
Middle English
Proper noun
Arthur
- Alternative form of Arthure
- 1470–1483 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “[The Tale of King Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folio 35, recto, lines 6–8:
- So hit felle on a tyme kyng Arthur ſeyde vnto Merlion My barownes woll let me haue no reſte but nedis I muſte take a wyff ⁊ I wolde none take but by thy counceile and advice //
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
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Norman
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name
Norwegian
Etymology
Borrowed from English in the 19th century.
Proper noun
Arthur m
- a male given name from English