Lillian Gish

2 7.9

An American film actress known for her roles in early silent movies

proper noun

: Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish was celebrated as one of the greatest actresses of the silent film era.

Examples

D. W. Griffith frequently cast Lillian Gish in leading roles in his movies.
Film historians often credit Lillian Gish with influencing the development of screen acting.
Lillian Gish was legendary.
What a remarkable actress Lillian Gish was!
Lillian Gish starred in many classic silent films, showcasing her immense talent and charm.
Many film enthusiasts regard Lillian Gish as a pioneer of early cinema and a true icon of the silent film era.
Lillian Gish earned critical acclaim for her performances in several groundbreaking films directed by D. W. Griffith.

Surface Forms

Lillian Gish main

Morphology

Lillian + Gish

This is a referential proper name for a specific historical person, not a compositional phrase; knowing the constituent tokens ('Lillian' and 'Gish') — which are not lexical dictionary entries here — does not allow a learner to infer the person’s identity or biographical role. Recognizing who Lillian Gish was requires cultural or historical knowledge rather than knowing the meanings of the parts, so the expression is not derivable from its constituents.

Etymology

Lillian Gish was a famous American actress in the very early movies that had no sound. She used clear facial expressions and small gestures to show feeling on camera, and working with director D. W. Griffith made her a model of 'screen acting', so her name is remembered as a symbol of early film acting.