St. Anselm
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9.9
- proper noun
- The teachings of St. Anselm greatly influenced medieval philosophy.
Examples
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The philosophical writings of St. Anselm had a profound influence on medieval thought.
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Many scholars study St. Anselm's works in theology classes.
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St. Anselm is famous for formulating the ontological argument for the existence of God.
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Many scholars study the correspondence between St. Anselm and his contemporaries.
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St. Anselm is famous for formulating the ontological argument for the existence of God.
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The philosophical writings of St. Anselm had a profound influence on medieval thought.
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Many scholars study the correspondence between St. Anselm and his contemporaries.
Synonyms
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9.9
A medieval Italian monk and church leader who served as Archbishop of Canterbury
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9.5
A medieval monk and philosopher who argued that God exists
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9.9
A medieval monk who became Archbishop of Canterbury and argued for God's existence
Surface Forms
Morphology
St. + Anselm
The form 'St. Anselm' is transparently composed from the title 'St.' (Saint) plus the proper name 'Anselm', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it refers to a saint named Anselm. Detailed biographical or philosophical information (dates, role as Archbishop, ontological argument) is encyclopedic and not derivable from the words, but the basic referential meaning is immediately clear.
Etymology
St. Anselm was an 11th-century monk and thinker who tried to 'prove that God exists' with a simple idea: if you can imagine the greatest possible being, that being must exist in reality as well as in your mind. That's why he is remembered for using reason to study faith.