I think you have it backwards. A lot of languages (including mine) use some form of plural to address people at a higher station, which isn’t really a thing in Egnlish any more since it uses “you” for both singular and plural, but “thy” and “thou” is 100% singular - you would never use these words when addressing a group of people, no matter how familiar or above them in station you are.
Yeah that is correct, I was only describing singular usage. It is commonly believed by English speakers that thee, thou, thine were formal or that you and your are newer
Really we dumped the informal words and started addressing everyone as if they were due respect of rank or station
I think you have it backwards. A lot of languages (including mine) use some form of plural to address people at a higher station, which isn’t really a thing in Egnlish any more since it uses “you” for both singular and plural, but “thy” and “thou” is 100% singular - you would never use these words when addressing a group of people, no matter how familiar or above them in station you are.
Yeah that is correct, I was only describing singular usage. It is commonly believed by English speakers that thee, thou, thine were formal or that you and your are newer
Really we dumped the informal words and started addressing everyone as if they were due respect of rank or station