Ferdinand de Lesseps

1 9.3

A French diplomat and engineer who supervised the building of the Suez Canal

proper noun

: Fernando de Lesseps

Ferdinand de Lesseps successfully navigated numerous challenges to complete the Suez Canal in 1869.

Examples

The vision and determination of Ferdinand de Lesseps made the Suez Canal a reality.
The engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps was pivotal in the Suez Canal project.
Ferdinand de Lesseps played a pivotal role in connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Many historians credit Ferdinand de Lesseps with revolutionizing global trade routes.
Did you know that Ferdinand de Lesseps was born in France?
Ferdinand de Lesseps is widely recognized for his role in overseeing the construction of the Suez Canal.
Many consider Ferdinand de Lesseps to be a key figure in the history of engineering and international trade.

Synonyms

Vicomte Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps

vsFerdinand de Lesseps

9.9

A French diplomat and engineer who led the building of the Suez Canal

names the same person without the noble title

Surface Forms

Ferdinand de Lesseps main

Morphology

Ferdinand + de + Lesseps

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; knowing the constituent items ('Ferdinand', 'de', 'Lesseps') does not allow a learner to infer his identity, occupation, or role in the Suez Canal. The particle 'de' only signals a name form and provides no semantic clue to his biography, so the expression's meaning is not derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Ferdinand de Lesseps was a French engineer who imagined cutting a long channel through land to join two seas. He led the building of the 'Suez Canal', which let ships go between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea without sailing around Africa, so his name is remembered for that famous engineering project.