Meaning & use
Arthur
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Meanings
proper nounproper
A male first name, popular in English-speaking countries for many centuries.
Grammar: Always capitalized and used without an article: Arthur called.
Arthur waited for his brother at the station.
My grandfather, Arthur, was a carpenter all his life.
Please ask Arthur to bring the keys.
proper nounproper
The legendary British king whose knights sat at a round table.
Grammar: Often appears as King Arthur and in stories of Camelot.
Patterns
- King Arthur
According to legend, Arthur pulled a sword from a stone.
Many films retell the story of Arthur and his knights.
Scholars still argue whether a real Arthur ever lived.
Common combinations
- King Arthur
- King Arthur is the hero of many medieval tales.
- Arthur and Guinevere
- The play follows Arthur and Guinevere through a stormy marriage.
- Arthurian legend
- Arthurian legend includes the quest for the Holy Grail.
- Uncle Arthur
- Uncle Arthur always brings us chocolate.
Word family
- Arthurian adjective
- relating to King Arthur and his knights
- Art proper noun
- a short form of the name Arthur
Practice
Which adjective describes stories about the legendary king and his Round Table?
Choose one answer.
Arthurian is the established adjective formed from Arthur. Arthritic relates to arthritis, and the other forms are not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Arthur”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.