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Rappahannock River

Rappahannock River

1 7.3
A river in eastern Virginia that flows into the Chesapeake Bay
  • proper noun
  • /ˌræpəˈhænək ˈrɪvər/
: río Rappahannock
  • The Rappahannock River flows through the picturesque landscape of Virginia before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay.

Examples

  • The Rappahannock River is known for its scenic beauty and historical significance.

  • We spent the afternoon canoeing on the Rappahannock River.

  • Many Civil War battles took place near the Rappahannock River.

  • The Rappahannock River is known for its beautiful scenery.

  • Have you ever visited the Rappahannock River?

  • Many Civil War battles took place near the Rappahannock River.

  • We spent the afternoon canoeing on the Rappahannock River.

Synonyms

Rappahannock
vsRappahannock River
2 9.3

A river in eastern Virginia that flows into the Chesapeake Bay

notes the same river but specifies passage through the Tidewater region

Surface Forms

Morphology

Rappahannock + river

The phrase follows the regular proper-name + common-noun pattern (Name + river), so a learner who knows 'river' and recognizes 'Rappahannock' as a name will readily infer it denotes the river called Rappahannock. This compositional structure is cross-linguistically common, making the meaning (a river named Rappahannock) transparent even if the learner does not know its exact location.

Etymology

Rappahannock River may come from a Native American word meaning 'river of quick rising water'. People used that name because this river's level and tides can rise and fall quickly, so the name still describes the river today.