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Glite Dictionary
First Duke of Wellington

First Duke of Wellington

8.4
A British general who beat Napoleon at Waterloo and later became Prime Minister
  • proper noun
translation icon : Primer Duque de Wellington
  • The First Duke of Wellington played a crucial role in defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

Examples

  • As Prime Minister, the First Duke of Wellington faced several important political challenges.

  • Many biographies have been written about the First Duke of Wellington and his influence on European history.

  • The First Duke of Wellington was a key figure in British history.

  • Did the First Duke of Wellington really defeat Napoleon?

  • The First Duke of Wellington is best known for his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

  • As a military leader, the First Duke of Wellington significantly shaped the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars.

  • The First Duke of Wellington later served as Prime Minister, influencing British politics in the 19th century.

Synonyms

Wellington
vsFirst Duke of Wellington
18 7.2

A British general and government leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and became Prime Minister

is the formal hereditary title rather than the surname form
Duke of Wellington
vsFirst Duke of Wellington
1 6.3

A British general and political leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and later became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

is the specific first instance of that title tied to the historic person
Arthur Wellesley
vsFirst Duke of Wellington
8.4

A British general and politician who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and later served as Prime Minister

is the formal hereditary title rather than the person's full name
Iron Duke
vsFirst Duke of Wellington
  • Literature
9.6

A British general and politician best known for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo

is the formal hereditary title rather than an informal nickname

Surface Forms

First Duke of Wellington main

Morphology

first + duke + of + Wellington

The phrase is a compositional title: combining 'first' (order), 'duke' (noble rank) and 'of Wellington' (the named dukedom) yields the initial holder of the dukedom. This is a predictable, non-idiomatic construction found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand it refers to the first person to hold the Duke of Wellington title, even if they lack the historical details.

Etymology

First Duke of Wellington was the title given to Arthur Wellesley after his big victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. He was the first person to hold the Duke title tied to the place name Wellington, so the phrase now refers to that man and his later role as 'Prime Minister'.