King Arthur's Round Table

7.0

A round table where King Arthur and his knights sat as equals

noun

Literature

: Mesa Redonda del Rey Arturo

Many stories describe the legendary King Arthur's Round Table as a symbol of equality among the knights.

Examples

Discussions at King Arthur's Round Table supposedly decided the fate of the entire kingdom.
Tourists often visit the site in Winchester believed to display King Arthur's Round Table.
The knights gathered around King Arthur's Round Table to discuss their next quest.
Many stories are told about King Arthur's Round Table and its significance.
In the stories of Arthurian legend, King Arthur's Round Table symbolized equality among his knights.
At King Arthur's Round Table, all the knights gathered to discuss their adventures and strategies.
The legend tells that King Arthur's Round Table allowed for fair discussions without hierarchy among the knights.

Synonyms

Round Table

vsKing Arthur's Round Table

Literature

7 6.5

A large round table in stories about King Arthur where knights sit as equals

is the more specific name that shows direct royal association

Surface Forms

King Arthur's Round Table singular

Morphology

king + Arthur's + round + table

The phrase is compositionally transparent: a possessive noun phrase meaning a round table belonging to (or associated with) King Arthur, directly derivable from 'king' + 'Arthur's' + 'round' + 'table'. Although full cultural or legendary connotations (the equal-seating of knights) require background knowledge, the literal referent is immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

King Arthur's Round Table comes from an old story about King Arthur and his knights. One popular story says the round table had no head seat, so everyone sat as equals and made decisions together, and that's why it stands for 'equality' and making decisions together.