Francis of Assisi
5
6.4
- proper noun
- Did Francis of Assisi really preach to the birds?
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Saint Francis of Assisi
Examples
-
The Feast of Francis of Assisi is celebrated by Catholics around the world each October 4th.
-
Francis of Assisi is often associated with a love for animals and nature.
-
Many people are inspired by Francis of Assisi and his dedication to a life of poverty and service.
-
Francis of Assisi is known for his love of animals.
-
St. Francis of Assisi is known for his deep love of nature and animals.
-
Many people turn to Francis of Assisi for inspiration in their spiritual lives.
-
In art, Francis of Assisi is often depicted preaching to the birds.
Synonyms
5
5.6
An Italian monk and Catholic saint who founded a group of religious men
5
6.8
An Italian monk who founded the Franciscan order and became a Catholic saint
3
7.0
An Italian monk and preacher who founded the Franciscan order and cares for the poor and animals
1
6.3
An Italian religious man of the 1200s who started the Franciscan order and cared for poor people and animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
Francis + of + Assisi
The string is a proper name composed transparently as 'Francis' + 'of' + 'Assisi', so a learner who knows the words can infer it refers to a person named Francis associated with the place Assisi (i.e., ‘Francis from Assisi’). However, the specific biographical and religious information (that he was an Italian monk, founder of the Franciscan order, and a venerated saint) is not derivable from the constituents, so full meaning requires prior cultural/historical knowledge.
Etymology
Francis of Assisi was an Italian monk who gave up a rich life to live simply and help the poor; he loved animals and was often shown preaching to birds, so people picture him with nature. That's why his name is linked to care for animals and he is called a 'saint'.