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St. Francis River

St. Francis River

4.4
A river in the central United States that rises in Missouri and flows southeast through Arkansas to the Mississippi River
  • proper noun
  • /seɪnt ˈfrænsɪs ˈrɪvər/
translation icon : río San Francisco
  • The St. Francis River is a tributary that merges into the Mississippi River.

Examples

  • The St. Francis River often floods during the spring rains in Arkansas.

  • We went fishing by the banks of the St. Francis River last weekend.

  • The St. Francis River plays a vital role in local agriculture due to its water resources.

  • The St. Francis River flows through beautiful landscapes.

  • Have you ever visited the St. Francis River?

  • The St. Francis River flows through Arkansas and is known for its scenic views.

  • Many families enjoy picnics along the banks of the St. Francis River during the summer.

Synonyms

Saint Francis River
vsSt. Francis River
4.4

A river in the central United States that starts in Missouri and flows southeast through Arkansas into the Mississippi River

is written using the abbreviated form of that title

Surface Forms

Morphology

St. + Francis + river

This is a compositional place name: 'river' clearly denotes a watercourse and 'St. Francis' functions as a proper name (Saint Francis). A B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it refers to a river named after St. Francis, with no idiomatic or metaphorical shift.

Etymology

St. Francis River may be named after St. Francis, a well-known Christian 'saint'. Early explorers and settlers often named places after saints, sometimes because they reached a place on that saint's day, so the name points to a person, not a feature of the river.