Dean Swift

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An English writer from the 1600s and 1700s known for funny stories that criticize people and society

proper noun

: Dean Swift

The famous author Dean Swift wrote 'Gulliver's Travels'.

Examples

Many of Dean Swift's satirical essays are still studied today for their wit and insight.
The biting irony of Dean Swift influenced generations of satirists after him.
Few writers match the legacy of Dean Swift in the realm of political satire.
Did Dean Swift really live in the 18th century?
The satirical genius of Dean Swift continues to inspire writers around the world.
Scholars often analyze the works of Dean Swift to understand his critique of society.
One of the most famous works of Dean Swift is 'Gulliver's Travels', which is a staple in literature classes.

Surface Forms

Dean Swift main

Morphology

dean + Swift

This is a proper-name reference to a specific historical person (Jonathan Swift), not a compositional phrase. Knowing the word 'dean' (a title) and the surface form 'Swift' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the literary identity or biographical reference without prior world knowledge, so the meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Dean Swift comes from Jonathan Swift's real job: he was the dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and his last name was Swift. That's why Dean Swift refers to the famous 'satirist' who wrote sharp, funny criticism like 'Gulliver's Travels'.