Lady Godiva
2
9.3
- proper noun
- /ˈleɪdi ɡəˈdaɪvə/
- NSFW
- According to legend, Lady Godiva rode through Coventry naked to protest her husband's high taxes on the townspeople.
Examples
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There is a famous statue of Lady Godiva in the center of Coventry.
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Many people know the tale of Lady Godiva but are unaware of its connection to the phrase 'Peeping Tom'.
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The story of Lady Godiva riding naked through Coventry has inspired artists for centuries.
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The story of Lady Godiva has been told for centuries.
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Did you know that Lady Godiva rode through Coventry?
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The legend of Lady Godiva continues to be a significant part of Coventry's history and culture.
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In the story, Lady Godiva decided to make her ride after her husband refused to lower the oppressive taxes.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A legendary English noblewoman who rode through Coventry naked to persuade her husband to lower taxes for the town
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a proper name referring to a specific historical/legendary person and her famous protest; the narrative meaning (riding naked through Coventry to oppose taxation) is cultural and not deducible from the nouns 'lady' and the proper name 'Godiva.' Even a learner who knows both words would need prior cultural or encyclopedic knowledge to understand the referent, so it is not compositionally transparent.
Etymology
Lady Godiva comes from a famous English story: she rode through the town almost naked to protest her husband's heavy 'taxes' on the people. That's why her name is remembered as a sign of brave public protest and self‑sacrifice today.