Boris Spassky

3 7.1

A Russian chess player who was world champion from 1969 to 1972 and later moved to Paris

proper noun

: Boris Spassky

The famous 1972 match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer was watched around the world.

Examples

Boris Spassky won the World Chess Championship in 1969 by defeating Tigran Petrosian.
Boris Spassky later moved to France, where he continued to play chess at a high level.
Boris Spassky is a chess legend.
The legendary chess player Boris Spassky won the world championship in 1969.
Boris Spassky won the World Chess Championship in 1969 by defeating Tigran Petrosian.
Boris Spassky later moved to France, where he continued to play chess at a high level.
The legendary chess player Boris Spassky won the world championship in 1969.

Synonyms

Spassky

vsBoris Spassky

9 9.5

A Russian chess player who was world champion from 1969 to 1972

notes later relocation to Paris rather than highlighting that famous match

Surface Forms

Boris Spassky main

Morphology

Boris + Spassky

This is a proper name whose referential meaning (a Russian chess grandmaster) is not compositionally derived from its parts. Knowing the words 'Boris' and 'Spassky' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the person's identity or occupation, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Boris Spassky is the name of a Russian chess grandmaster who was 'world champion' from 1969 to 1972 and later moved to Paris. He became famous worldwide for his 1972 match with Bobby Fischer, which many people saw as a battle between the USA and the USSR, so his name now makes people think of a 'top chess player' and a 'Cold War' showdown.