News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.
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Thursday, February 3, 2011
Prince Philip and the Russians
over a plot of land, once owned by Grand Duke Serge and Grand Duchess Ella, who was Philip's great-aunt.
Wouldn't Ella be Prince Philip's grand-aunt. She was the sister of his grandmother Victoria. Philip's great-(grand)-aunts would include Princess Beatrice, Princess Louise and so on. The correct title for your grandmother's sister is grand-aunt, and in earlier times in the United States it was more correctly used.
Old newspaper articles and older dictionaries refer to your grandmother's sister as your grand-aunt and your great grandmother's sister as your great grand-aunt, with some people it became easier to say great-great aunt and this became the norm in some circles. My family has always used grand-aunt, and it was not clear to me when some people referred to their great aunt. Newer dictionaries have them both listed as usable, however to be correct it should be grand-aunt.
great-aunt n. a father's or mother's aunt.1656 tr. J. A. Comenius Gate Lat. Tongue Unlocked lxxx. §752 Above these are, great-unkle and *great-aunt by the father's side, unkle and aunt by the father's side in the third degree. 1875 J. Lubbock Origin of Civilisation (ed. 3) iv. 188 When great-uncles and aunts are termed grandfathers and grandmothers. 1656—1875
Grand aunt, according to the OED, was used briefly in the 1800s. great aunt first appears in the 1600s. Perhaps some still use it, but the more correct term in modern English is great aunt
Wouldn't Ella be Prince Philip's grand-aunt. She was the sister of his grandmother Victoria.
ReplyDeletePhilip's great-(grand)-aunts would include Princess Beatrice, Princess Louise and so on.
The correct title for your grandmother's sister is grand-aunt, and in earlier times in the United States it was more correctly used.
Old newspaper articles and older dictionaries refer to your grandmother's sister as your grand-aunt and your great grandmother's sister as your great grand-aunt, with some people it became easier to say great-great aunt and this became the norm in some circles. My family has always used grand-aunt, and it was not clear to me when some people referred to their great aunt.
Newer dictionaries have them both listed as usable, however to be correct it should be grand-aunt.
Great aunt is the correct term
ReplyDeletefrom the OED
great-aunt n. a father's or mother's aunt.1656 tr. J. A. Comenius Gate Lat. Tongue Unlocked lxxx. §752 Above these are, great-unkle and *great-aunt by the father's side, unkle and aunt by the father's side in the third degree.
1875 J. Lubbock Origin of Civilisation (ed. 3) iv. 188 When great-uncles and aunts are termed grandfathers and grandmothers.
1656—1875
Grand aunt, according to the OED, was used briefly in the 1800s. great aunt first appears in the 1600s. Perhaps some still use it, but the more correct term in modern English is great aunt