divine right

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Explanation of "Divine Right"

Definition: The term "divine right" refers to a political and religious doctrine that suggests that a king or queen has the right to rule because they were chosen by God. This means that their authority comes directly from God, and they are not answerable to their people. According to this belief, questioning or rebelling against the king is seen as a serious crime.

Usage Instructions

• Part of Speech: Noun
• How to Use: You can use "divine right" when discussing historical forms of monarchy, particularly in contexts where rulers emphasized their authority as being granted by a higher power.

Example Sentence

• "In the 16th century, many monarchs believed in the divine right, claiming their power came directly from God."

Advanced Usage

• In discussions about political philosophy, "divine right" can be contrasted with concepts like democracy, where rulers are chosen by the people rather than by divine appointment.
• Historians often analyze the effects of the divine right on governance and society, especially in the context of revolutions and reforms.

Word Variants

• Divine (adjective): Relating to God or a god.
• Right (noun): A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.

Different Meanings

• While "divine right" specifically refers to the doctrine of monarchy, the word "divine" can also mean something that is heavenly or god-like, and "right" can refer to correctness or entitlement in other contexts.

Synonyms

• God-given authority
• Theocratic rule

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs related to "divine right," but you might see phrases like "by divine right" used to emphasize that someone feels they have an unquestionable claim to power.

Summary

"Divine right" is an important concept in the study of history and politics, especially regarding the nature of authority and governance.

Academic

Noun

1. the doctrine that kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; rebellion is the worst of political crimes
   • the doctrine of the divine right of kings was enunciated by the Stuarts in Britain in the 16th century

Synonyms

• divine right of kings