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Johann Gutenberg

Johann Gutenberg

1 6.1
A German printer who introduces movable metal letters to Europe and invents the printing press
  • proper noun
: Johann Gutenberg
  • The Bible printed by Johann Gutenberg is considered the first book produced with movable type in Europe.

Examples

  • Johann Gutenberg revolutionized the spread of knowledge by inventing the printing press in the 15th century.

  • The invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg revolutionized communication.

  • Many historians credit Johann Gutenberg as one of the most influential inventors in human history.

  • Johann Gutenberg was born around 1400.

  • Johann Gutenberg revolutionized the spread of knowledge by inventing the printing press in the 15th century.

  • Many historians credit Johann Gutenberg as one of the most influential inventors in human history.

  • The Bible printed by Johann Gutenberg is considered the first book produced with movable type in Europe.

Synonyms

Gutenberg
vsJohann Gutenberg
10 6.3

A German person who invented the printing press or something named after him

refers only to the historical person not to named objects
Johannes Gutenberg
vsJohann Gutenberg
1 5.2

A German printer and inventor known for introducing printing with movable letters in Europe

has identical meaning but uses a different personal name form

Surface Forms

Morphology

Johann + Gutenberg

This is a proper name referring to a historical person; the literal constituents ('Johann' and 'Gutenberg') do not convey the biographical information that he introduced movable type or invented the printing press. A B1 learner who knows the words as names would not be able to infer that specific historical meaning without prior cultural/world knowledge.

Etymology

Johann Gutenberg was a German craftsman in the 1400s who made books much faster by using small metal letters and a hand press called the 'printing press'. Picture him setting tiny letters like a toy set and pressing paper to make many pages, and that image explains why his name is linked to the start of modern printed books.