Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Saint Joan

Saint Joan

6.8
A French woman who led soldiers against the English and helped make Charles VII king before being executed for heresy
  • proper noun
translation icon : Santa Juana
  • The play about Saint Joan dramatizes her trial and execution.

Examples

  • Many historians view Saint Joan as a symbol of courage and faith.

  • Saint Joan was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1920.

  • Many people admire Saint Joan for her bravery.

  • Did Saint Joan really hear voices?

  • The play Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw explores the life and legacy of the French heroine.

  • Saint Joan became a symbol of courage and faith for her role in the Hundred Years' War.

  • Many schools study Saint Joan to examine themes of nationalism and spirituality in history.

Synonyms

Joan of Arc
vsSaint Joan
3 4.3

A young French woman who leads soldiers against the English and later becomes a saint

mentions execution for heresy before or despite any later sainthood
Jeanne d'Arc
vsSaint Joan
8.3

A young French woman who led soldiers against the English in the 1400s and later became a saint

focuses more on leading resistance and crowning the king rather than visions

Surface Forms

Saint Joan main

Morphology

saint + Joan

The phrase is partly transparent: 'saint' denotes a holy/canonized person and 'Joan' is a personal name, so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a holy woman called Joan. However, the specific historical identity and role (Joan of Arc as a French heroine and military leader executed for heresy) cannot be derived from the constituents and requires cultural/historical knowledge.

Etymology

The name Saint Joan comes from Joan of Arc, a young French peasant who said she heard voices that told her to lead soldiers and help Charles VII become king. She was later put to death and then declared a 'saint' by the Church, so Saint Joan now brings to mind courage, strong faith, and self‑sacrifice.