Continental Congress
5
6.4
- proper noun
- /ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntl ˈkɒŋɡrɛs/
:
Congreso Continental
- Assessing the accomplishments and failures of the Continental Congress
- the Second Continental Congress
- delegates to the Continental Congress
- member of the Continental Congress
Examples
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The result is the convening, in 1774, of the First Continental Congress.
Fiction book (2000) -
Timothy Matlack was the official scribe of the Continental Congress.
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The Second Continental Congress meeting in the city of Philadelphia is now in session.
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Final appeals in these matters could be made to the Continental Congress.
Academic text (2009) -
The Continental Congress could not honor its commitments under the Treaty of Paris.
Academic text (2002) -
Three weeks later, a second Continental Congress gathers in Philadelphia.
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The latter six gentlemen would serve in Virginia's delegation to the first Continental Congress.
Academic text (1996) -
The Continental Army acquired additional support from leaders in the Continental Congress because of its diplomatic and political value to the patriot cause.
Academic text (2000) -
The First Continental Congress elaborated that claim in its Declaration and Resolves on October 14, 1774.
Academic text (2004) -
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress worked to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is transparently built from 'continental' (relating to the continent/colonies) + 'congress' (a formal assembly), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an assembly representing the colonies. The precise historical details (that it governed during the American Revolution and declared independence) are specific and not predictable from the words, but the core meaning as an assembly of colonial delegates is directly derivable.
Etymology
Continental Congress comes from the words continental, which means 'of the continent', and congress, which means a 'meeting' of representatives. So it became the name for the big meeting where representatives from the American colonies met to govern, declare independence, and make rules together.