Martha's Vineyard
3
3.9
- proper noun
- /ˈmɑrθəz ˈvɪnˌjɚd/
:
Martha's Vineyard
- During the summer, tourists flock to Martha's Vineyard to enjoy its charming towns and scenic views.
Examples
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Few came, compared with the crowds on Martha's Vineyard, though our tabernacle was often full on Sunday nights.
Academic text (1999) -
Now the distinction with several other destinations is that Martha's Vineyard is accessible by only two distinctive methods: air travel and sea travel.
Blog text (22) -
Yeah, we met at a party at Martha's Vineyard.
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The choices offered on Martha's Vineyard would be the getaway homes, which are one of the most preferred.
Blog text (22) -
When I visited her at her residential home on Martha's Vineyard, it was invariably the same routine.
Fiction book (2002) -
This Scandinavian-inspired kitchen is set on Lake Tashmoo, on the northern coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Blog text (24) -
Think the Hamptons, Newport, Martha's Vineyard, Nag's Head, and Hilton Head in the Carolinas.
Blog text (24) -
Two generations later, great vacation camp meetings, such as those at Ocean Grove and on Martha's Vineyard, were built by a Protestant hegemony setting out to reframe American life.
Academic text (1999) -
Many celebrities choose to vacation on Martha's Vineyard because of its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture.
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The Obama family spent their summer vacation on Martha's Vineyard, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the island.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Martha's + Vineyard
This is a fixed place name whose referent (an island/resort) is not compositionally derived from the parts; knowing 'Martha' (a personal name) and 'vineyard' (a grape farm) would likely lead a learner to a literal interpretation (Martha's grape farm) rather than the specific island. Understanding that it names a particular geographic location and holiday destination requires cultural or proper‑noun knowledge beyond constituent meanings, so it is not transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Martha's Vineyard may come from an early English sailor who named the island for a woman called Martha and for the wild grape vineyards he found there. That is why the name today refers to the island off Massachusetts that many people visit in summer.