Nell Gwynn
1
9.1
- proper noun
- During the Restoration period, Nell Gwynn became famous for her wit and charm on the London stage.
Examples
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Many historians study the influence Nell Gwynn had on the royal court of Charles II.
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The famous actress Nell Gwynn captivated audiences in the 17th century.
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A new play at the Globe Theatre is based on the life of Nell Gwynn.
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Did Nell Gwynn really have a relationship with King Charles II?
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A new play at the Globe Theatre is based on the life of Nell Gwynn.
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During the Restoration period, Nell Gwynn became famous for her wit and charm on the London stage.
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The famous actress Nell Gwynn captivated audiences in the 17th century.
Synonyms
1
9.8
An English actress famous as a mistress of King Charles II
An English actress known for comedy who became King Charles II's mistress
Surface Forms
Morphology
Nell + Gwynn
This is a proper name referring to a specific historical individual; the constituent tokens are personal names (no transparent lexical meanings) and do not convey the referent '17th-century English actress and mistress of Charles II'. A B1 learner who knows the words as names cannot deduce that biography from the parts alone, so prior cultural or lexical knowledge is required.
Etymology
Nell Gwynn was a real woman in England in the 1600s who began selling oranges at the theatre and later became a famous actress and comic performer. She also became the best-known 'mistress' of King Charles II, and her bright, funny style is why her name still appears in plays and books as a sign of a lively, charming woman.