Skip to main content
Lady Emma Hamilton

Lady Emma Hamilton

1 8.8
An English woman from the late 1700s who posed for artists and was Admiral Nelson's lover
  • proper noun
: Lady Emma Hamilton
  • The dramatic relationship between Admiral Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton is still widely discussed today.

Examples

  • The life of Lady Emma Hamilton has fascinated historians for centuries.

  • Lady Emma Hamilton is often depicted in portraits by the artist George Romney.

  • Many consider Lady Emma Hamilton to be a significant figure in British history.

  • Did you know that Lady Emma Hamilton was also an accomplished artist?

  • Lady Emma Hamilton is often depicted in portraits by the artist George Romney.

  • Many consider Lady Emma Hamilton to be a significant figure in British history.

  • The life of Lady Emma Hamilton has fascinated historians for centuries.

Surface Forms

Morphology

lady + Emma + Hamilton

The form is partly transparent: a learner who knows 'lady' and recognizes 'Emma Hamilton' as a personal name can infer this refers to a titled woman named Emma Hamilton. However, the constituents do not convey the encyclopedic, historical information (dates, role as socialite and mistress of Admiral Nelson), so the full intended meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Lady Emma Hamilton was a famous woman in society who became known as a model for paintings and as the 'mistress' of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Because she inspired many paintings and a public love story, her name now brings to mind a famous muse and a well-known romantic scandal.