Abel Tasman

1 7.9

Dutch sailor who was the first European to reach Tasmania and New Zealand

proper noun

: Abel Tasman

The explorer Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand in 1642.

Examples

Abel Tasman made significant voyages that led to the European discovery of Tasmania and New Zealand.
Many places in Australia and New Zealand are named after Abel Tasman.
In history class, we studied the explorations of Abel Tasman and his contributions to navigation.
Did Abel Tasman ever visit Australia?
Abel Tasman made significant voyages that led to the European discovery of Tasmania and New Zealand.
In history class, we studied the explorations of Abel Tasman and his contributions to navigation.
Many places in Australia and New Zealand are named after Abel Tasman.

Synonyms

Tasman

vsAbel Tasman

1 7.5

Dutch explorer and sailor who first reached Tasmania and New Zealand

is the fuller two word name rather than the surname alone

Abel Janszoon Tasman

vsAbel Tasman

9.8

A Dutch explorer and sailor who was the first European to reach Tasmania and New Zealand

is the common shorter personal name used in everyday references

Surface Forms

Abel Tasman main

Morphology

Abel + Tasman

This is a proper name referring to a historical person; the constituent parts ('Abel' and 'Tasman') do not compose to yield the biographical meaning (Dutch navigator who reached Tasmania and New Zealand). Personal names are non-compositional and require prior knowledge or context, so a B1 learner cannot derive the MWE's meaning from its parts.

Etymology

Abel Tasman was a Dutch sailor who sailed far across the ocean and was the first known European to reach what we now call 'Tasmania' and 'New Zealand'. Because those places were named for him, his name now reminds us of the sailor who found those lands.