Gene Kelly

9 2.0

A famous American dancer, actor, and singer known for musical films like Singin' in the Rain

proper noun
/dʒin ˈkɛli/

: Gene Kelly

Many aspiring dancers have cited Gene Kelly as a major influence on their careers.

Examples

The choreography of Gene Kelly combined athleticism and grace in an innovative way.
I love watching Gene Kelly dance in 'Singin' in the Rain'.
Gene Kelly starred in one of the most beloved musical films, 'Singin' in the Rain'.
Did you know Gene Kelly was also a talented choreographer?
Gene Kelly was a legendary American dancer and actor, famous for his performance in 'Singin' in the Rain'.
In his career, Gene Kelly became known for his innovative choreography and charismatic presence in musical films.
Many consider Gene Kelly one of the greatest dancers in film history, especially for his iconic roles in classic musicals.

Surface Forms

Gene Kelly main

Morphology

Gene + Kelly

This is a proper name referring to a specific individual; knowing the parts 'Gene' and 'Kelly' (or recognizing them as personal name components) does not let a learner infer the biographical meaning (American dancer/actor/choreographer). Learners might guess it is a person's name from form and capitalization, but the specific referent and professions are arbitrary and culturally specific, so the meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Gene Kelly was an American dancer and actor famous for energetic, athletic dancing in classic 'musical films' like 'Singin' in the Rain'. Because he often mixed strong, physical moves with charm and even danced in the rain, his name now brings to mind joyful, skillful dancing on film.