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Christchurch

Christchurch

6 3.2
A city in southeastern New Zealand and the largest city on the South Island
  • proper noun
: Christchurch
  • I have family that live in Christchurch, but I haven't been since the earthquakes.
  • Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Christchurch, Canterbury
  • University of Canterbury, Christchurch

However, it was the cheapest way to get from Christchurch to Auckland with one way rental.

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Examples

  • Yes, I was in Christchurch, New Zealand, and I was speaking in a public forum.

  • My first thought upon arriving in Christchurch was about how everything seemed very much the same.

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  • And the result was the Christchurch Call to Action.

  • Anything in Christchurch is always good.

  • One thing you can definitely say about the people of Christchurch is that they are resilient!

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  • Until the very recent past, I lived in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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  • And then after a short time in Sydney and Melbourne, we're continuing on to Christchurch, New Zealand.

  • I hope it rains at least one day while I'm in Christchurch, just so I can wander around in the rain.

  • My father was part of a research expedition that was coordinated out of Christchurch, New Zealand.

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  • The Discover Christchurch double-decker bus tour covers central Christchurch, as well as the town of Sumner.

Surface Forms

Morphology

Christchurch = Christ + church (semi-transparent) = Christ + church

The components 'Christ' and 'church' are recognizable, but as a place name the referent 'city' is an arbitrary toponym rather than a literal 'church of Christ'.

Etymology

Christchurch was named after Christ Church, a church and college in England that the early settlers used as a model when they founded the city. It joins Christ ('the Christian') and church ('a building for worship'), so the city's name literally remembers its English church origin.