Nat Turner

2 5.8

A Black man who led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831 and was later captured and executed

proper noun
/næt ˈtɜrnər/

: Nat Turner

In 1831, Nat Turner led a significant slave rebellion.

Examples

Historians continue to debate the impact of Nat Turner's rebellion on the abolition movement.
In 1831, Nat Turner led a violent slave rebellion in Virginia that changed the course of history.
A new biography explores the life and motivations of Nat Turner.
The story of Nat Turner is often discussed in American history classes.
The story of Nat Turner inspires many activists today.
The legacy of Nat Turner and his revolt is a significant topic in discussions about slavery in America.
A historian published a detailed study about Nat Turner, focusing on his role in the fight against oppression.

Surface Forms

Nat Turner main

Morphology

Nat + Turner

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the meanings of the constituent words 'Nat' and 'Turner' do not compose to yield the historical biography or the fact of the 1831 rebellion. Understanding who Nat Turner was requires specific cultural and historical knowledge rather than knowledge of the individual words, so a B1 learner who knows the words would not infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Nat Turner was an enslaved man in Virginia who in 1831 led a night attack on nearby plantations after he said he had religious visions, and he was later captured and executed. That's why Nat Turner is often remembered as a powerful symbol of resistance and his name is used when people talk about a 'slave rebellion' or a 'brave fight against slavery'.