Prester Johnn.

Brit.

/ˌprɛstə ˈdʒɒn/, U.S.

/ˌprɛstər ˈdʒɑn/

Forms:

α. Middle English Preester Iohn, Middle English Preestre Iohn, Middle English Prestere Johan, Middle English Prester Iohan, Middle English Prestre Iohan, Middle English Prestre Iohn, Middle English Prestre Iohne, Middle English Prestre John, Middle English Prestre Jon, Middle English Preter Ion, Middle English Preter Johan, Middle English–1500s Preter Iohn, Middle English–1600s Prester Iohn, 1500s Prester Ian, 1500s Prester Johan, 1500s Prest John, 1500s Prestre Ian, 1500s Pretour Iohn, 1500s Priester Iohn, 1600s Prester Iean, 1600s Prester Jahn, 1600s Prestor John, 1600s Priest Iohn, 1600s– Prester John; also Scottish pre-1700 Prater Iohne, pre-1700 Prater Jhone, pre-1700 Prater John; N.E.D.(1908) also records forms of the first element 1500s Prestere, Prestour, and forms of the second element 1500s Jon, 1700s Jean.

β. 1500s Preter Iany, 1500s Pretian, 1600s Prestegian, 1600s Prestegiane, 1600s Prete Gianni, 1600s Prete Ianni.

γ. 1600s Prester Jacke.

Origin: A borrowing from French, combined with a proper name; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: French prestre, proper name John.

Etymology: In α. forms < Anglo-Norman and Middle French prestre, preste priest (see priest n.) + the male forename John (see John n.), after Anglo-Norman prestre Johan, Middle French prestre Jehan (end of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman; French prêtre-Jean ), itself after post-classical Latin presbyter Johannes, literally ‘Priest John’ (from 12th cent. in British and continental sources). In β. forms largely after Italian Prete Gianni (end of the 13th cent. or earlier; > Middle French prettejan (16th cent.)); in forms Prete Gianni , Prete Ianni directly < the Italian name. In γ form with alteration of the second element after the male forename Jack (see Jack n.²). Compare Spanish Preste Juan (second half of the 14th cent. or earlier). Compare later Presbyter John n. at presbyter n. Compounds, Precious John n. at precious adj., adv., and n. Compounds 2.Apparently attested earlier as a surname, although it is unclear whether the following examples reflect currency of the Middle English or the Anglo-Norman word: Prestreiohan (1219), John Prestrejohan (1346). Prester John was first mentioned in the 12th cent. as ruling in a remote region of the East, possibly including India (itself a vague concept for Europeans at the time). In 1145 the chronicler Otto of Freising transmitted information about a great victory of Prester John at Ecbatana in Persia. This story may have owed its origin to the signal defeat of the Seljuk Turks by the Kara-Khitan Khanate near Samarkand in 1141. The growth and popularity of the story was probably due to a hope that a Christian power in the East might offer assistance in the Crusades. In the mid 12th cent. a ‘Letter of Prester John’ began to circulate throughout Europe; Pope Alexander III attempted unsuccessfully to reply to it. During the 13th cent. Prester John was understood to be a Christian ruler who had been defeated by the Mongols, at that time dominant in Central Asia. In the late Middle Ages, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, legend transferred Prester John's realm to Ethiopia, and when contact was established with the actual Christian kingdom there the name Prester John was commonly applied by Europeans to the Emperor of Ethiopia. There is no historical evidence to explain the origin of the name. Eusebius ( Historia Ecclesiastica 3. 39. 4) quotes Irenaeus as referring to an otherwise unknown John the Presbyter of Syria, supposedly the author of two of the Epistles of St John, but apart from the resemblance of the name there is nothing to connect him with the legendary Prester John.

a. (The name of) a Christian king of medieval legend, originally believed to rule over a territory in the East, beyond Armenia and Persia, but from later generally represented as the King of Ethiopia.See note in etymology for the historical background.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > sovereign ruler or monarch > king > [noun] > alleged oriental or Ethiopian king

Prester Johna1400

Pope Johna1450

Presbyter John1582

Precious John1634

a1400 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 272 These ben Prestere Johanes londes.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 162 Prestre Iohan [?a1425 Egerton Prestre Iohne] þat is Emperour of the high Ynde.

c1450 (?c1400) Three Kings Cologne (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 116 He scholde be cleped Prester Iohn..in þe worschippe of seynt Ion þe Euangelist.

1485 W. Caxton tr. Paris & Vienne (1957) 59 The londe of prester Iohan.

a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid viii. Prol. 155 To reyd I begane The riotest ane ragment..Of all the mowis in this mold... The horne and the hand staff, Prater John and Port Jaff.

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere i. p. lxxxv Bothe the Latyn chyrch & the Greke chyrche and pretour Iohns chyrche to.

1554 W. Prat tr. J. Boemus Discr. Aphrique E ij The kynge of Ethiope whiche we call pretian or prest John.

1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 344^v In the East syde of Afrike beneth the redde sea, dwelleth the greate and myghtye Emperour and Chrystian kynge Prester Johan, well knowen to the Portugales in theyr vyages to Calicut.

1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. iv. 11/1 The countrey of Prester Iohn, which is called by them the countrey of Abexines.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. Introd. 21 The emperour Prete Ianni hath two speciall princely names, to wit, Acegue..and Neguz, a king.

1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 11 As for Prester Jacke, the Great Mogul, the Sophy of Persia, and the Great Turke, I can see them as often as I doe my Boy.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 130 The great Christian of Æthiopia, vulgarly cald Prester, Precious, or Priest-Iohn.

1678 S. Butler Ladies Answer to Knight in Hudibras: Third Pt. 279 Like the Mighty Prester Jahn Whose Person, none dare's look upon.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 495. ¶5 Not to mention whole Nations bordering on Prester John's Country.

1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xlvii. 597 The fame of Prester or Presbyter John has long amused the credulity of Europe.

a1855 C. Brontë Professor (1857) II. xxii. 126 If I mention your name in company, the men look as if I had spoken of Prester John; and the women sneer covertly.

1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. xix. 240 Like Prester John's, his table had been spread, and infernal harpies had snatched up the food.

1953 Speculum 28 438 The picture of unity and harmony prevalent in the vast Prester John empire seems purposely drawn in contrast to the political chaos of Europe.

1997 E. A. Livingstone Oxf. Dict. Christian Church (ed. 3) 1324/1 In 1177 Pope Alexander III wrote a letter.., which was supposed to be addressed to Prester John. It has been argued, however, that it was meant for a real historical personage, namely the King of Ethiopia, which country was commonly confused with India during the Middle Ages.

b. Heraldry. A representation of Prester John as a charge. Now historical and rare.Used only in describing the arms of the See of Chichester, more normally and now only seen as bearing the figure of Christ, the confusion perhaps arising from the appearance of Christ on the medieval arms attributed to Prester John.

ΚΠ

1661 S. Morgan Sphere of Gentry iii. vii. 68 Chichester beareth Saphyre, a Prester John or Presbyter John sitting on a tombstone, having in his left hand a Mound, and his right hand extended Topaz with a linnen Miter on his head.

1847 H. Gough Gloss. Terms Brit. Heraldry 255 Prester (or Presbyter) John, the figure of a man, vested and hooded, sitting upon a plain seat, (commonly called a tombstone,) his right hand extended in the attitude of benediction..and the left holding an open book. In his mouth a sword fessways... The ensign of the See of Chichester, the only instance in which the bearing occurs.

1969 J. Franklyn & J. Tanner Encycl. Dict. Heraldry 288/1 The See of Chichester has ‘our Lord..upon a throne’, which was formerly blazoned as ‘Prester John’.

2. A person, esp. a ruler, likened to Prester John.In quot. 1598: a person who is supreme in a particular sphere.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [noun] > chief of its or his kind

sunOE

lordOE

princec1225

primatec1384

princessc1390

giant1535

queen1554

first gentleman1584

Prester John1598

arch1605

gigant1610

principate1651

top-stone1659

first lady1677

Shakespeare1821

king1829

prius1882

aristocrat1883

Sun King1971

1598 E. Guilpin Skialetheia i. sig. C2^v And fooles doe sit More honored then the Prester Iohn of wit?

1651 J. S. Prince of Priggs Revels 1 Whose Copper-Lace, and Copper-Noses once Made them to think themselves great Prester-Johns.

1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all v. 61 Your Prester Johns o' th' East-Indies.

a1894 R. L. Stevenson In South Seas (1896) i. xv. 144 This reception of some hitherto undreamed-of and outlandish potentate—some Prester John or old Assaracus.

1990 Independent (Nexis) 19 Aug. 19 Most curiously, he was a sort of Prester John bent on overthrowing the British Empire south of the Sahara and making himself Emperor of Africa.

Derivatives

† Prester-Johnian adj. Obsolete of or relating to Prester John.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) i. iv. 15 On them a lay Of Prester-Johnion whispers.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	prester john
释义	Prester Johnn. Brit. /ˌprɛstə ˈdʒɒn/, U.S. /ˌprɛstər ˈdʒɑn/ Forms: α. Middle English Preester Iohn, Middle English Preestre Iohn, Middle English Prestere Johan, Middle English Prester Iohan, Middle English Prestre Iohan, Middle English Prestre Iohn, Middle English Prestre Iohne, Middle English Prestre John, Middle English Prestre Jon, Middle English Preter Ion, Middle English Preter Johan, Middle English–1500s Preter Iohn, Middle English–1600s Prester Iohn, 1500s Prester Ian, 1500s Prester Johan, 1500s Prest John, 1500s Prestre Ian, 1500s Pretour Iohn, 1500s Priester Iohn, 1600s Prester Iean, 1600s Prester Jahn, 1600s Prestor John, 1600s Priest Iohn, 1600s– Prester John; also Scottish pre-1700 Prater Iohne, pre-1700 Prater Jhone, pre-1700 Prater John; N.E.D.(1908) also records forms of the first element 1500s Prestere, Prestour, and forms of the second element 1500s Jon, 1700s Jean. β. 1500s Preter Iany, 1500s Pretian, 1600s Prestegian, 1600s Prestegiane, 1600s Prete Gianni, 1600s Prete Ianni. γ. 1600s Prester Jacke. Origin: A borrowing from French, combined with a proper name; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: French prestre, proper name John. Etymology: In α. forms < Anglo-Norman and Middle French prestre, preste priest (see priest n.) + the male forename John (see John n.), after Anglo-Norman prestre Johan, Middle French prestre Jehan (end of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman; French prêtre-Jean ), itself after post-classical Latin presbyter Johannes, literally ‘Priest John’ (from 12th cent. in British and continental sources). In β. forms largely after Italian Prete Gianni (end of the 13th cent. or earlier; > Middle French prettejan (16th cent.)); in forms Prete Gianni , Prete Ianni directly < the Italian name. In γ form with alteration of the second element after the male forename Jack (see Jack n.²). Compare Spanish Preste Juan (second half of the 14th cent. or earlier). Compare later Presbyter John n. at presbyter n. Compounds, Precious John n. at precious adj., adv., and n. Compounds 2.Apparently attested earlier as a surname, although it is unclear whether the following examples reflect currency of the Middle English or the Anglo-Norman word: Prestreiohan (1219), John Prestrejohan (1346). Prester John was first mentioned in the 12th cent. as ruling in a remote region of the East, possibly including India (itself a vague concept for Europeans at the time). In 1145 the chronicler Otto of Freising transmitted information about a great victory of Prester John at Ecbatana in Persia. This story may have owed its origin to the signal defeat of the Seljuk Turks by the Kara-Khitan Khanate near Samarkand in 1141. The growth and popularity of the story was probably due to a hope that a Christian power in the East might offer assistance in the Crusades. In the mid 12th cent. a ‘Letter of Prester John’ began to circulate throughout Europe; Pope Alexander III attempted unsuccessfully to reply to it. During the 13th cent. Prester John was understood to be a Christian ruler who had been defeated by the Mongols, at that time dominant in Central Asia. In the late Middle Ages, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, legend transferred Prester John's realm to Ethiopia, and when contact was established with the actual Christian kingdom there the name Prester John was commonly applied by Europeans to the Emperor of Ethiopia. There is no historical evidence to explain the origin of the name. Eusebius ( Historia Ecclesiastica 3. 39. 4) quotes Irenaeus as referring to an otherwise unknown John the Presbyter of Syria, supposedly the author of two of the Epistles of St John, but apart from the resemblance of the name there is nothing to connect him with the legendary Prester John. 1. a. (The name of) a Christian king of medieval legend, originally believed to rule over a territory in the East, beyond Armenia and Persia, but from later generally represented as the King of Ethiopia.See note in etymology for the historical background. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > sovereign ruler or monarch > king > [noun] > alleged oriental or Ethiopian king Prester Johna1400 Pope Johna1450 Presbyter John1582 Precious John1634 a1400 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 272 These ben Prestere Johanes londes. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 162 Prestre Iohan [?a1425 Egerton Prestre Iohne] þat is Emperour of the high Ynde. c1450 (?c1400) Three Kings Cologne (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 116 He scholde be cleped Prester Iohn..in þe worschippe of seynt Ion þe Euangelist. 1485 W. Caxton tr. Paris & Vienne (1957) 59 The londe of prester Iohan. a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid viii. Prol. 155 To reyd I begane The riotest ane ragment..Of all the mowis in this mold... The horne and the hand staff, Prater John and Port Jaff. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere i. p. lxxxv Bothe the Latyn chyrch & the Greke chyrche and pretour Iohns chyrche to. 1554 W. Prat tr. J. Boemus Discr. Aphrique E ij The kynge of Ethiope whiche we call pretian or prest John. 1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 344^v In the East syde of Afrike beneth the redde sea, dwelleth the greate and myghtye Emperour and Chrystian kynge Prester Johan, well knowen to the Portugales in theyr vyages to Calicut. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. iv. 11/1 The countrey of Prester Iohn, which is called by them the countrey of Abexines. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. Introd. 21 The emperour Prete Ianni hath two speciall princely names, to wit, Acegue..and Neguz, a king. 1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 11 As for Prester Jacke, the Great Mogul, the Sophy of Persia, and the Great Turke, I can see them as often as I doe my Boy. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 130 The great Christian of Æthiopia, vulgarly cald Prester, Precious, or Priest-Iohn. 1678 S. Butler Ladies Answer to Knight in Hudibras: Third Pt. 279 Like the Mighty Prester Jahn Whose Person, none dare's look upon. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 495. ¶5 Not to mention whole Nations bordering on Prester John's Country. 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xlvii. 597 The fame of Prester or Presbyter John has long amused the credulity of Europe. a1855 C. Brontë Professor (1857) II. xxii. 126 If I mention your name in company, the men look as if I had spoken of Prester John; and the women sneer covertly. 1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. xix. 240 Like Prester John's, his table had been spread, and infernal harpies had snatched up the food. 1953 Speculum 28 438 The picture of unity and harmony prevalent in the vast Prester John empire seems purposely drawn in contrast to the political chaos of Europe. 1997 E. A. Livingstone Oxf. Dict. Christian Church (ed. 3) 1324/1 In 1177 Pope Alexander III wrote a letter.., which was supposed to be addressed to Prester John. It has been argued, however, that it was meant for a real historical personage, namely the King of Ethiopia, which country was commonly confused with India during the Middle Ages. b. Heraldry. A representation of Prester John as a charge. Now historical and rare.Used only in describing the arms of the See of Chichester, more normally and now only seen as bearing the figure of Christ, the confusion perhaps arising from the appearance of Christ on the medieval arms attributed to Prester John. ΚΠ 1661 S. Morgan Sphere of Gentry iii. vii. 68 Chichester beareth Saphyre, a Prester John or Presbyter John sitting on a tombstone, having in his left hand a Mound, and his right hand extended Topaz with a linnen Miter on his head. 1847 H. Gough Gloss. Terms Brit. Heraldry 255 Prester (or Presbyter) John, the figure of a man, vested and hooded, sitting upon a plain seat, (commonly called a tombstone,) his right hand extended in the attitude of benediction..and the left holding an open book. In his mouth a sword fessways... The ensign of the See of Chichester, the only instance in which the bearing occurs. 1969 J. Franklyn & J. Tanner Encycl. Dict. Heraldry 288/1 The See of Chichester has ‘our Lord..upon a throne’, which was formerly blazoned as ‘Prester John’. 2. A person, esp. a ruler, likened to Prester John.In quot. 1598: a person who is supreme in a particular sphere. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [noun] > chief of its or his kind sunOE lordOE princec1225 primatec1384 princessc1390 giant1535 queen1554 first gentleman1584 Prester John1598 arch1605 gigant1610 principate1651 top-stone1659 first lady1677 Shakespeare1821 king1829 prius1882 aristocrat1883 Sun King1971 1598 E. Guilpin Skialetheia i. sig. C2^v And fooles doe sit More honored then the Prester Iohn of wit? 1651 J. S. Prince of Priggs Revels 1 Whose Copper-Lace, and Copper-Noses once Made them to think themselves great Prester-Johns. 1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all v. 61 Your Prester Johns o' th' East-Indies. a1894 R. L. Stevenson In South Seas (1896) i. xv. 144 This reception of some hitherto undreamed-of and outlandish potentate—some Prester John or old Assaracus. 1990 Independent (Nexis) 19 Aug. 19 Most curiously, he was a sort of Prester John bent on overthrowing the British Empire south of the Sahara and making himself Emperor of Africa. Derivatives † Prester-Johnian adj. Obsolete of or relating to Prester John.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) i. iv. 15 On them a lay Of Prester-Johnion whispers. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.a1400
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