maharajah

Thân thiện

The maharajah rides his decorated elephant through the city.

Definition

Noun: 1. A great raja; a Hindu prince or king in India ranking above a raja: A maharajah is a title for a high-ranking Indian prince or monarch, historically denoting a ruler of significant territory and power, superior to a raja.

Usage

• The title "maharajah" is used as a form of address or reference for a specific ruler.
• It is a historical and formal title, often associated with the pre-independence era of India.
• It functions as a proper noun when referring to a specific individual (e.g., Maharajah Ranjit Singh) and as a common noun when referring to the title or rank in general.

Examples

• The maharajah ruled his kingdom with wisdom and justice for decades.
• During the British colonial period, many maharajahs maintained their courts and palaces.
• The festival was inaugurated by the maharajah himself.

Advanced Usage

• "The Maharajah of...": A formal title used before the name of a specific state or region.
  • The Maharajah of Mysore was a great patron of the arts.
• Used metaphorically or humorously to denote someone with great authority or luxury in a specific, often non-royal, domain.
  • In the world of vintage cars, he is considered a maharajah.

Variants and Related Words

• Maharaja: An alternative spelling of the same word.
• Maharani (noun): The wife of a maharajah; a queen or princess consort.
  • The maharani accompanied the maharajah to the diplomatic event.
• Raja (noun): A king or prince in India, typically ranking below a maharajah.

Synonyms

• Prince: A son of a monarch; a male ruler of a small state.
• Monarch: A sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor.
• Sovereign: A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is specific to the Indian subcontinent and its historical princely states. It carries connotations of immense wealth, hereditary authority, and a specific cultural and historical context.
• In contemporary usage, the title is largely ceremonial or historical, as the official powers of the princely states were integrated into the modern republics of India and Pakistan.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a great raja; a Hindu prince or king in India ranking above a raja

Từ đồng nghĩa

• maharaja