House of Burgesses
1
9.9
- proper noun
- /haʊs əv bɜrˈdʒɛsɪz/
:
Casa de los Burgueses
- Once, when Washington was canvassing in Williamsburg for the election to the House of Burgesses.
- the Virginia House of Burgesses
In his maiden speech in the House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry rose to the occasion.
- In his maiden speech in the House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry rose to the occasion.
Examples
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The House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in America, established in the early 17th century.
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In 1619, Virginia's House of Burgesses was created, marking a significant step in colonial governance.
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On Tuesday, 25 February, the House of Burgesses turned to four controversial religious matters.
Academic text (1996) -
In his maiden speech in the House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry rose to the occasion.
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Unaware, Virginia's House of Burgesses had met for the last time.
Academic text (1996) -
These revolutionary legislative bodies each would carry over from the colonial House of Burgesses three standing committees.
Academic text (1996) -
Take, for example, his preface to the Report to the House of Burgesses, which he wrote in 1754.
Academic text (1997) -
On 7 May 1769, at the height of the Townshend Acts crisis, the House of Burgesses, on its first day in session, established a standing Committee for Religion.
Academic text (1996) -
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in February 1732, Washington served as a British officer during the French and Indian War and in the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he led opposition to Great Britain's colonial policies.
Academic text (1997) -
Many decisions affecting the colony were made by the House of Burgesses, which represented the people's voice.
Synonyms
166
7.2
An official group of elected people who make laws
Surface Forms
Morphology
The structure 'House of X' is compositional so a learner who knows 'house' as an assembly and 'burgess' as a civic representative can infer it denotes an assembly of burgesses. However, as a proper historical name with archaic terminology and specific facts (e.g. lower house, colonial Virginia, first representative assembly) the full, precise historical sense is not fully predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
House of Burgesses comes from the old word burgess, which meant a town citizen chosen to speak for other people. The House was the meeting place for these local representatives, so the name explains why it became the first 'representative' assembly in America.