Marquise de Maintenon

9.9

A woman who secretly married King Louis XIV of France after his first wife died

proper noun

: Marquesa de Maintenon

The letters of Marquise de Maintenon reveal her influence on the royal court.

Examples

Marquise de Maintenon played a significant role in Louis XIV's private life.
Marquise de Maintenon was known as the secret wife of Louis XIV after his first wife's death.
Historians debate whether Marquise de Maintenon was ever crowned queen.
The Marquise de Maintenon was a significant figure in French history.
Did the Marquise de Maintenon influence Louis XIV's decisions?
The influence of Marquise de Maintenon on the king's policies is widely acknowledged by historians.
Many people recognize Marquise de Maintenon for her role in shaping the direction of the French court.

Synonyms

Maintenon

vsMarquise de Maintenon

1 9.9

A woman who secretly married King Louis XIV and influenced the French court

is the formal noble title rather than the brief surname form

Francoise d'Aubigne

vsMarquise de Maintenon

9.9

French noblewoman who became the secret second wife and adviser of King Louis XIV

is the title form used more commonly in narrative history

Surface Forms

Marquise de Maintenon main

Morphology

marquise + de + Maintenon

The phrase is compositional in that 'marquise' (a titled noblewoman) + 'de' (of) + 'Maintenon' (a proper name) clearly signals a noble title attached to a person named Maintenon, so a learner who knows the parts will infer it refers to a titled woman. However, the detailed historical meaning (that she was Louis XIV's secret consort) cannot be derived from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Marquise de Maintenon belongs to a French noblewoman from the small town of Maintenon who secretly married King Louis XIV after his first wife died. That's why she is remembered as the king's private 'wife' and a powerful figure at court.