Maximilien Robespierre
1
9.3
- proper noun
- Maximilien Robespierre was a key figure in the French Revolution, known for his leadership in the Committee of Public Safety.
Examples
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Maximilien Robespierre played a central role during the French Revolution and became infamous for his radical policies.
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The downfall of Maximilien Robespierre marked a dramatic turn in the course of the revolution.
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Historians often debate the motivations and actions of Maximilien Robespierre during the Reign of Terror.
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The French Revolution was significantly influenced by Maximilien Robespierre.
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Did Maximilien Robespierre really believe in the ideals of liberty and equality?
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The political ideology of Maximilien Robespierre emphasized radical change during the revolutionary period.
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During the Reign of Terror, Maximilien Robespierre oversaw the execution of thousands who opposed the revolution.
Synonyms
4
9.8
French political leader during the French Revolution who led the Reign of Terror and was executed
Surface Forms
Morphology
Maximilien + Robespierre
This is a proper name referring to a specific historical individual; the meaning (a French revolutionary leader and architect of the Reign of Terror) is not compositionally derived from its parts. Proper names function as arbitrary referents rather than semantic combinations, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words cannot infer the biographical meaning.
Etymology
Maximilien Robespierre was a French revolutionary leader famous as 'the Incorruptible' for his strict ideas. He led a government that used the guillotine to remove many people and was later executed himself, so his name now often stands for a leader who begins with good ideas but becomes very 'harsh'.