William Wordsworth

1 5.3

An English poet of the Romantic period who wrote about nature and the Lake District

proper noun

Literature

: William Wordsworth

The Lake District inspired much of William Wordsworth's most famous work.

Examples

The poetry of William Wordsworth often reflects his deep appreciation for the beauty of nature.
Many English students study William Wordsworth for his role in the Romantic movement.
The works of William Wordsworth are celebrated worldwide.
Did you read anything by William Wordsworth?
Many English students study William Wordsworth for his influential contributions to Romantic poetry.
The Lake District is a prominent feature in William Wordsworth's poetry, reflecting his love for nature.
The poetry of William Wordsworth beautifully captures the essence of the natural world around him.

Surface Forms

William Wordsworth main

Morphology

William + Wordsworth

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; knowing the constituent names 'William' and 'Wordsworth' does not allow a B1 learner to infer that the phrase denotes an English Romantic poet or the biographical details. The meaning is referential and lexicalized rather than compositionally derived from its parts, so it is not transparent to learners.

Etymology

William Wordsworth's last name looks like words + worth, which gives a neat memory hook: he treated words as something valuable and used simple, strong language to show the beauty of nature. That's why he is remembered as a poet who wrote about the Lake District and the power of everyday language.