La Marseillaise
1
7.8
- proper noun
- /lɑː mɑːrˈseɪjɛz/
- sing La Marseillaise
- La Marseillaise, the national anthem
- La Marseillaise, the national
Examples
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He planned a painting of La Marseillaise on the left, the anthem of the Revolution, a song that was banned under the King.
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During the ceremony, everyone stood up as they played La Marseillaise, honoring the national anthem of France.
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At the celebration, the crowd proudly sang La Marseillaise, the anthem that represents their nation's spirit.
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The musicians were invited to perform La Marseillaise during the memorial service, evoking strong emotions among the attendees.
Synonyms
3
7.6
The national song of France played at official events and ceremonies
Surface Forms
Morphology
La + Marseillaise
La Marseillaise is a language-specific proper name for France's national anthem; its meaning is a cultural/historical reference rather than a compositional combination of common English words. Even if a learner recognises 'La' as a French article or associates 'Marseillaise' with Marseille, they would not reliably infer the specific sense 'the national anthem of France' without prior exposure.
Etymology
La Marseillaise got its name during the French Revolution when volunteers from the city of Marseille marched to Paris singing a new marching song. People began to call that tune 'La Marseillaise', the song from Marseille, and it later became France's 'national anthem'.