Martin of Tours
- proper noun
:
San Martín de Tours
- In an act of charity that lives on in Christian tradition, Saint Martin of Tours divided his cloak in half and gave that along with half of his dinner to the cold and starving beggar.
- Saint Martin of Tours
Examples
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The feast day of Saint Martin of Tours is observed on November 11th each year.
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Right outside the gate to the city, Saint Martin of Tours met a cold and starving beggar.
Academic text (1993) -
Like Saint Martin of Tours with 40 beggars, we have more need than resources.
Academic text (1993) -
Like Saint Martin of Tours with 40 beggars, our compassion exceeds our practical response.
Academic text (1993) -
In the Christian tradition, there is the story about Saint Martin of Tours, who in medieval times was riding his horse, alone and cold, through the deepening night toward the walled city that was his destination.
Academic text (1993) -
In medieval France, Saint Martin of Tours is celebrated for his compassion and generosity towards the poor.
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Many Christians look to Saint Martin of Tours as an example of kindness and humility.
Synonyms
∞
5.6
A Christian bishop from France in the 300s known for sharing his coat with a poor man
A Christian bishop from the 4th century known for sharing his cloak with a beggar
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a toponymic proper name composed of the personal name 'Martin' plus the prepositional link 'of' and the place name 'Tours', so its meaning (Martin associated with Tours) follows directly from its parts. The construction is a standard, cross-linguistic naming pattern indicating origin or affiliation, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand who is being referred to.
Etymology
Martin of Tours is named for a saint long ago who, as a young soldier, cut his warm cloak in two to give half to a freezing beggar; that clear image of sharing made him famous. That's why many churches and places carry his name and why he is called the 'patron saint of France'.