Baron Alexander von Humboldt
- proper noun
:
Barón Alejandro de Humboldt
- Many consider Baron Alexander von Humboldt to be the father of modern geography.
Examples
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The discoveries made by Baron Alexander von Humboldt helped lay the foundations for modern geography.
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Many places and species are named after Baron Alexander von Humboldt in recognition of his contributions to science.
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Baron Alexander von Humboldt was a pioneering scientist whose explorations influenced many areas of research.
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Baron Alexander von Humboldt traveled extensively through South America.
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Baron Alexander von Humboldt was a pioneering scientist whose explorations influenced many areas of research.
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Many places and species are named after Baron Alexander von Humboldt in recognition of his contributions to science.
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The discoveries made by Baron Alexander von Humboldt helped lay the foundations for modern geography.
Synonyms
19
8.3
A German scientist and explorer who studied plants, animals, and land in Central and South America
Surface Forms
Morphology
baron + Alexander + von + Humboldt
This is a proper name with a title: knowing 'baron' signals nobility and the other parts are personal names, but none of the constituent words allow a learner to infer that this person was a German naturalist, explorer, or the 'father of modern geography.' Proper names are essentially encyclopedic and non-compositional, so the specific biographical meaning cannot be derived from the parts.
Etymology
Baron Alexander von Humboldt is the name of a German explorer and scientist who travelled mountains, rivers and jungles and carefully recorded plants, animals and maps. Because he made many important discoveries, people began to use his name for towns, mountains and species, so today Baron Alexander von Humboldt often names a 'place' or a 'species' that honours him.