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QUEEN (O.E. cwen, wife, related to "quean," O.E. cwene, a hussy; cf. Gr. yvvi7: from root gan-, to produce; cf. genus, " kin," &c.)
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QUEEN (O.E. cwen, wife, related to "quean," O.E. cwene, a hussy; cf. Gr. yvvi7: from root gan-, to produce; cf. genus, " kin," &c.), the title of the consort or wife of a king (" queen consort" ), or of a woman who is herself the sovereign ruler of a state (" queen regnant" ); the widow of a former reigning sovereign is a " queen dowager," and, when the mother of the reigning sovereign, a " queen mother." For the position of the queen in English constitutional law see CONSORT, and for her household see HOUSEHOLD, ROYAL.