Richard Burton

1 7.7

An English explorer and writer who explored parts of Africa including Lake Tanganyika

proper noun

: Richard Burton

Richard Burton was a pioneering explorer who traveled extensively in Africa during the 19th century.

Examples

Many historians regard Richard Burton's exploration of Lake Tanganyika as a groundbreaking achievement.
Did Richard Burton discover the source of the Nile?
Richard Burton documented his journeys across Africa in vivid detail.
In 1857, Richard Burton and John Speke set out to find the source of the Nile.
The famous explorer Richard Burton traveled extensively in Africa.
As an accomplished geographer, Richard Burton contributed significantly to our understanding of East Africa.
Among his many achievements, Richard Burton was known for his exploration of Lake Tanganyika in the 1850s.

Surface Forms

Richard Burton main

Morphology

Richard + Burton

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; knowing the constituents 'Richard' and 'Burton' (a common given name and surname) does not let a B1 learner infer the encyclopedic meaning (19th‑century explorer/geographer). The referential, identity-based meaning is not compositionally derived from the parts and thus is unpredictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Richard Burton belongs to an English 'explorer' and writer from the 1800s who traveled across Africa and, with John Speke, helped find Lake Tanganyika. His bold journeys and detailed books are why people still remember his name today.