Sojourner Truth

2 6.1

An American woman who escaped slavery and worked to end slavery and win rights for women

proper noun
/soʊˈdʒɜrnər truːθ/

: Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth delivered powerful speeches on abolition and women's rights throughout the United States.

Examples

Many historians view Sojourner Truth as a trailblazer in both the antislavery and women's suffrage movements.
A statue honoring Sojourner Truth stands in the U.S. Capitol to recognize her contributions to American history.
In the 1800s, Sojourner Truth fought for the rights of women.
Did Sojourner Truth really deliver the famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech?
Sojourner Truth was a key figure in the abolitionist movement and fought for women's rights during the 19th century.
The legacy of Sojourner Truth continues to inspire activists advocating for equality and justice.
Sojourner Truth's contributions to civil rights are celebrated each year on Women's History Month.

Surface Forms

Sojourner Truth main

Morphology

Sojourner + Truth

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the referential/biographical meaning (a 19th-century abolitionist and feminist) is not compositionally derived from the parts. Even if a learner knows the words 'sojourner' and 'truth' (and note 'sojourner' is archaic/uncommon), the name's specific identity and historical role are unpredictable, so it would be opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Sojourner Truth comes from the name she chose for herself: she picked Sojourner to show she would 'travel' to speak and Truth to show she would 'speak the truth' about slavery and women's rights. That's why her name reminds us she travelled and spoke out for freedom and women's rights.