Henry VIII
12
5.5
- proper noun
- /ˈhɛnri eɪˈeɪtʰ/
- Within seven months of James V's death, Arran had agreed to the Treaties of Greenwich with Henry VIII, which promised the marriage of the infant queen to Edward, the Prince of Wales, followed by a political union of the two countries.
- the reign of Henry VIII
Examples
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The reign of Henry VIII marked a pivotal time in British history, particularly due to the English Reformation.
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To Henry VIII's great dismay, the Scots king, on the recommendation of his council, decided not to travel across the border and stood up his uncle.
Academic text (2006) -
The English King Henry VIII had broken with the Catholic Church, bringing the Reformation to the British Isles.
Academic text (2006) -
Henry VIII, desiring northern support, began to court his nephew, the Scottish King James V, as did the Catholic Church and France.
Academic text (2006) -
As a consequence, by the fall of 1543, the Scots reneged on the Treaties of Greenwich, making Henry VIII furious.
Academic text (2006) -
This infuriated Henry VIII (whose headless wives had experienced his temper), and he immediately invaded Scotland, resulting in the Battle of Solway Moss, in which a large number of Scottish nobles were either captured or killed.
Academic text (2006) -
King Henry VIII is often remembered for his six marriages and the significant impact he had on the Church in England.
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Many portraits of Henry VIII depict him as a larger-than-life figure with a commanding presence.
Synonyms
1
5.3
A king of England from 1509 to 1547 who had six marriages and left the Catholic Church
Surface Forms
Morphology
Henry + VIII
The form is compositional: 'Henry' is a personal name and 'VIII' is the Roman numeral for eight, so the combination transparently reads as 'Henry the Eighth' — a specific person (the eighth ruler with that name). This naming convention for monarchs is cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will recognise it denotes a particular historical ruler (though detailed biographical facts are not inferable from the constituents).
Etymology
Henry VIII was an English king famous for having six wives and for breaking with the Pope to make himself head of the English church. The VIII after his name means 'the eighth' Henry, and his story is why his name now brings to mind royal power, marriage drama, and big religious change.