Ulysses Grant

11 5.3

American army leader who led the Union in the Civil War and later became the 18th President

proper noun
/juˈlɪsɪz grænt/

: Ulysses Grant

After the war, Ulysses Grant became the 18th President of the United States.

Examples

The famous general Ulysses Grant led the Union to victory.
After the war, Ulysses Grant became the 18th President of the United States.
Ulysses Grant played a crucial role in the victory of the Union during the Civil War.
Many historians regard Ulysses Grant as one of America's most effective military leaders.
Did Ulysses Grant serve two terms as president?
Ulysses Grant played a crucial role in the victory of the Union during the Civil War.
Many historians regard Ulysses Grant as one of America's most effective military leaders.

Synonyms

Grant

vsUlysses Grant

86 3.3

The 18th president of the United States who led the Union Army in the Civil War

uses the full personal name rather than the surname

Ulysses S. Grant

vsUlysses Grant

9 4.2

An American general who leads the Union Army to victory and later becomes the 18th President of the United States

omits the middle initial and uses the name without it

Surface Forms

Ulysses Grant main

Morphology

Ulysses + Grant

This is a referential proper name for a specific historical individual; knowing the constituent words (two given names/surnames) does not allow a B1 learner to infer the specific facts that he was the 18th U.S. President and Civil War commander. The meaning is arbitrary and tied to a particular referent rather than being compositionally derived from the parts, so it is not predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Ulysses Grant was actually born Hiram Ulysses Grant, but one popular story says a congressman accidentally wrote his name as 'Ulysses S. Grant' when he sent it to West Point, and the new name stuck. He later led the Union armies to victory in the Civil War and became the 18th President, so that name is remembered for military skill and national leadership.