Marquis de Sade
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9.9
- proper noun
- /mɑrˈki dɪ sɑd/
- NSFW
- Many consider the writings of Marquis de Sade controversial for their explicit depiction of violence and sexuality.
Examples
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The Marquis de Sade is a controversial figure.
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The word 'sadism' is derived from the infamous Marquis de Sade.
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Scholars have debated the philosophical impact of Marquis de Sade in literature and psychology.
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Many scholars study the writings of Marquis de Sade for their historical significance.
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His controversial ideas reflect the philosophy of the Marquis de Sade, who challenged societal norms.
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Many discussions about erotic literature often mention the Marquis de Sade for his provocative writings.
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The portrayal of human desires in film is sometimes influenced by the works of the Marquis de Sade.
Synonyms
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9.9
A French writer and soldier whose books show cruel sexual acts and who inspired the term sadism
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9.9
A French writer and nobleman known for books about cruel sexual acts that inspired the word sadism
Surface Forms
Morphology
Knowing 'marquis' (a noble rank), 'de' (of), and 'Sade' (a surname) lets a B1 learner infer this is a nobleman named Sade — the title+surname structure is compositionally clear and cross-linguistically common. However, the specific biographical details (his erotic writings) and the derived concept of 'sadism' are not predictable from the constituents, so the full meaning cannot be derived without prior cultural or historical knowledge.
Etymology
Marquis de Sade was a French noble and writer whose books often showed people enjoying cruel acts, so his name became the word 'sadism', meaning 'taking pleasure in others' pain'.