Saint George
- proper noun
- The legend of Saint George and the dragon is a well-known story among Christians.
Examples
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Every year, people honor Saint George on April 23rd with parades and events across England.
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The flag of England features the cross of Saint George, symbolizing courage and chivalry.
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And as the people at Saint George took cover, it was natural that some of them have questions about atomic tests.
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If you were driving from Los Angeles to salt lake city on us highway 91, you would pass through Saint George, Utah, just a short way from the Nevada test site 140 miles to the west.
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Word has just been received from the atomic energy commission that due to a change in wind direction the residue from this morning's atomic detonation is drifting in the direction of Saint George.
Synonyms
A Christian saint who is the patron saint of England and killed a dragon to save a princess
A Christian saint who is the patron of England and famous for killing a dragon
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'saint' and 'George' can transparently infer this refers to a holy person named George (i.e. a saint called George), so the basic identity is compositional. However, the specific cultural details in the definition — martyrdom, patronage of England, and the dragon-slaying legend — are not derivable from the constituents and require extra cultural/historical knowledge, making the overall item only partially transparent.
Etymology
Saint George comes from a popular story about a brave soldier who killed a dragon to save a princess and the town. Because of that strong picture of protection and courage, people call Saint George a 'protector' and a symbol of 'bravery'.