Definition

Proper noun 1. A historical nickname: "Little Giant" is a nickname for Stephen A. Douglas, a prominent 19th-century United States Senator from Illinois. The nickname contrasts his short physical stature with his significant political influence and powerful oratory skills, particularly during the debates about slavery.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Stephen A. Douglas, known as the Little Giant, famously debated Abraham Lincoln.
  • The Little Giant was a key figure in the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used historically and biographically to refer specifically to Stephen A. Douglas. It is typically capitalized when used as a proper noun.
  • The political legacy of the Little Giant is complex and debated by historians.

Variants and Related Words

• Nickname: A familiar or humorous name given to a person instead of or as well as their real name.
• Orator: A skilled public speaker.

Synonyms

• Stephen A. Douglas
• The Senator from Illinois (historical context)

Notes on Meaning

• This is a fixed historical epithet. While the words "little" and "giant" can be used separately, the combined term "Little Giant" primarily refers to this specific individual and is not commonly used as a general descriptor for other short, influential people. Its meaning is deeply tied to U.S. political history.

Noun

1. United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)