Saint Thomas à Becket
- proper noun
- Pilgrims traveled to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket after his canonization.
Examples
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The story of Saint Thomas à Becket is often cited as an example of martyrdom for religious principles.
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Many historians debate the political implications of the murder of Saint Thomas à Becket.
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The story of Saint Thomas à Becket is fascinating.
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Many people visit Saint Thomas à Becket's shrine every year.
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Many historians debate the political implications of the murder of Saint Thomas à Becket.
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Pilgrims traveled to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket after his canonization.
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The story of Saint Thomas à Becket is often cited as an example of martyrdom for religious principles.
Synonyms
1
9.0
An English church leader who became archbishop of Canterbury and was killed after opposing King Henry II
1
7.8
A senior church leader in England who was killed after arguing with King Henry II about the Church's rights
A church leader in England who opposes the king and later becomes a saint
An Archbishop of Canterbury who was killed after opposing the king and later became a saint
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward title made from 'saint' + a personal name, so a B1 learner who knows 'saint' and recognizes personal-name structure will understand it refers to a holy/canonized person called Thomas Becket. Specific historical details (Archbishop of Canterbury, murder) are not derivable from the parts, but the core referential meaning (that this is a saintly person's name) is transparently indicated; this naming pattern is common cross-linguistically.
Etymology
Saint Thomas à Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury who argued with King Henry II about the church's power and was killed in his church in 1170. Because many people saw his death as 'martyrdom', he was made a saint and pilgrims came to his shrine, so his name now reminds people of standing up for their religious beliefs.