Thomas More
4
7.9
- proper noun
- The book 'Utopia' by Thomas More presents a vision of an ideal society based on justice and communal living.
Examples
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Indeed, lawyers have one genuine saint in Thomas More (canonised in the 20th century), and alongside recognised martyrs burned at the stake for retaining their religious beliefs, we can perhaps include those who suffered violent deaths purely because of their professional connections.
Academic text (2010) -
Neil Addison, a lawyer at the Thomas More Legal Centre, went as far as to declare the ruling redolent of "the most insidious form of totalitarianism": pre-formatted table
Academic text (2010) -
Historian Robert says that Thomas More was a prominent figure in English history, known for his refusal to accept King Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church.
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In his lifetime, Thomas More served as the Lord Chancellor of England, advocating for reform in the legal system.
Synonyms
1
7.2
An English lawyer and writer who opposed Henry VIII's divorce and was executed for his beliefs
Surface Forms
Morphology
Thomas + More
This is a proper name composed of a given name and a surname; knowing the words 'Thomas' and 'More' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the historical person, dates, or biographical meaning. Proper names are referential and arbitrary rather than compositional, so the overall meaning is not derivable from the constituents and is language-/culture-specific.
Etymology
Thomas More was an English lawyer and writer in the early 1500s. He wrote the book 'Utopia' about a perfect society and later refused to accept King Henry VIII as head of the church, so he was executed. Because he chose his beliefs over the king, Thomas More is remembered as a symbol of honesty and courage.