Sir William Wallace
1
7.3
- proper noun
- Sir William Wallace is celebrated in Scotland as a symbol of the country's fight for independence.
Examples
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Historians often debate the tactics used by Sir William Wallace during the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
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The legend of Sir William Wallace has inspired countless works of literature and film.
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The legendary Sir William Wallace fought bravely for Scottish independence.
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Did you know that Sir William Wallace was executed in 1305?
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Sir William Wallace is celebrated in Scotland as a symbol of the country's fight for independence.
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Historians often debate the tactics used by Sir William Wallace during the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
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The legendary Sir William Wallace fought bravely for Scottish independence.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Sir + William + Wallace
The element 'Sir' transparently signals a titled person (a knight), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer this is the name of a person with a title. However, the full meaning—that he was a specific Scottish national hero who led resistance against Edward I and the dates—cannot be derived from the names 'William' and 'Wallace' alone, so the expression is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight who led local fighters and won a famous victory by surprising English soldiers at a narrow bridge, a bold moment that people remember. That's why he became a 'symbol of Scotland's fight for independence'.