John Paul Jones
2
6.5
- proper noun
- I wish to thank John Paul Jones, Wolfgang Natler, and Richard Schein for their critical comments on an earlier draft of this article.
- John Paul Jones
Examples
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Many Americans admire John Paul Jones for his bravery during the Revolutionary War.
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In some ways, John Paul II represents the extent of the development that has taken place concerning the family.
Academic text (2005) -
In the history books, John Paul Jones is celebrated as a key figure in the fight against British naval power.
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John Paul Jones is often referred to as the Father of the American Navy for his significant contributions.
Surface Forms
Morphology
John + Paul + Jones
This is a proper name composed of given names and a surname; knowing the constituent words only signals that it is a person’s name, not the biographical fact that he was an 18th-century American naval commander. The specific historical/professional meaning cannot be derived compositionally from 'John', 'Paul', and 'Jones', so prior exposure or encyclopedic knowledge is required.
Etymology
John Paul Jones was an American sea captain in the fight for independence who won daring battles at sea against the British. One famous moment—when his ship was badly hurt but he kept fighting and reportedly said 'I have not yet begun to fight'—gives a clear image of bold determination, so his name now brings to mind early U.S. naval courage.