Basque Fatherland and Liberty
- proper noun
- NSFW
- Basque Fatherland and Liberty claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks during the 1980s.
Examples
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Security forces increased patrols after threats from Basque Fatherland and Liberty were reported.
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The activities of Basque Fatherland and Liberty influenced both Spanish and French politics for decades.
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The Basque Fatherland and Liberty group was involved in numerous violent incidents.
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Many people in Spain are aware of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty organization.
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Basque Fatherland and Liberty was notorious for its violent campaign advocating for Basque independence.
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In response to the activities of Basque Fatherland and Liberty, both Spain and France tightened their security measures.
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The rise of Basque Fatherland and Liberty marked a significant period in the struggle for Basque autonomy.
Synonyms
A Basque group that used violence to try to get independence from Spain
A Basque nationalist group that used violence to seek independence
An armed group from the Basque Country that used violence to try to become independent until 2018
Surface Forms
Morphology
Basque + fatherland + and + liberty
The literal components ('Basque' + 'fatherland' + 'liberty') transparently convey the idea of Basque homeland and freedom, so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer a nationalist or independence-oriented meaning. However, the fact that this is the proper name of a specific organization (ETA) and its historical connotations of organized violence are not predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Basque Fatherland and Liberty comes from the Basque phrase 'Euskadi Ta Askatasuna' and literally names Basque, fatherland, and liberty, meaning 'Basque homeland' and 'freedom'. The name was chosen in 1959 by activists who wanted an independent Basque country, so it reflects the group's political aim and helps explain why the name is linked to their later violent actions.