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Keystone Stater

Keystone Stater

9.1
A person who was born in or lives in the US state of Pennsylvania
  • noun
  • /ˈkiːstoʊn ˈsteɪtər/
translation icon : pennsylvaniano
  • As a proud Keystone Stater, she loves exploring the history of her home state.

Examples

  • Many Keystone Staters follow Penn State football with great enthusiasm.

  • He moved to Philadelphia and quickly felt welcomed by the Keystone Stater community.

  • A Keystone Stater loves their state pride.

  • Many Keystone Staters enjoy outdoor activities.

  • As a proud Keystone Stater, she enjoys sharing stories about Pennsylvania's rich heritage.

  • He met many fellow Keystone Staters at the local festival celebrating their state culture.

  • Living as a Keystone Stater, she takes advantage of the beautiful landscapes and parks in Pennsylvania.

Synonyms

Pennsylvanian
vsKeystone Stater
5 4.7

A person who was born in or lives in Pennsylvania

has the same meaning but is a different word form commonly used

Surface Forms

Morphology

keystone + stater

While 'stater' transparently denotes a resident, the modifier 'keystone' here invokes the cultural nickname 'Keystone State' for Pennsylvania rather than the literal sense of a keystone. A B1 learner who knows the literal meanings of the constituents but not this regional nickname would not be able to derive that it means a Pennsylvanian, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Keystone Stater comes from Pennsylvania's nickname 'Keystone State'. A keystone is the central stone in an arch that holds the others in place, and a stater is someone from a state, so the phrase means 'a native or resident of Pennsylvania'.