Junipero Serra

1 9.5

A Spanish priest who started churches and founded towns in California

proper noun
/ˌhuːnɪˈpɛroʊ ˈsɛrə/

: Junípero Serra

Junipero Serra founded the first mission in San Diego.

Examples

Junipero Serra founded several missions along the coast that later became the basis for major cities.
Junipero Serra established Mission San Carlos Borromeo, which became one of the most important missions in California.
Many cities and landmarks in California are named after Junipero Serra.
The legacy of Junipero Serra is still debated by historians today.
The legacy of Junipero Serra continues to influence California's history.
Many people visit California to learn about the contributions of Junipero Serra to the region's history.
Junipero Serra played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity among the Native American tribes in California.

Surface Forms

Junipero Serra main

Morphology

Junipero + Serra

This is a proper name referring to a historical person; the components 'Junipero' and 'Serra' are not lexical words with compositional meanings that would lead a B1 learner to infer 'Spanish Franciscan missionary' or historical significance. Knowledge of the constituent forms does not provide the referential or cultural information required, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Junipero Serra is the name of an 18th-century Spanish religious man who built small churches and settlements along California's coast called 'missions'. Picture him walking in a robe with a staff, opening places where settlers lived and prayed, and that is why his name is on many cities and landmarks today.