Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A city in Canada: A port city in eastern Canada; the largest city in the province of New Brunswick.
   • A river in North America: A river that originates in the U.S. state of Maine and flows northeastward through the Canadian province of New Brunswick to empty into the Bay of Fundy.
   • A figure in the New Testament: A disciple of Jesus; traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of John, three Epistles (1 John, 2 John, 3 John), and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. Often called Saint John the Apostle or John the Evangelist.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (City):

  • The ship arrived at the port of St. John.
  • St. John is an important cultural center in New Brunswick.

• Proper noun (River):

  • The St. John River forms part of the border between Maine and New Brunswick.
  • They went canoeing on the St. John.

• Proper noun (Biblical Figure):

  • St. John is often depicted with an eagle, symbolizing the heights of his theological vision.
  • The writings attributed to St. John emphasize love and light.

Advanced Usage

• "St. John the Baptist": A different biblical figure, a prophet who baptized Jesus. It is crucial to distinguish between St. John the Apostle and St. John the Baptist in religious contexts.

  • The feast day of St. John the Baptist is in June.

• "St. John's": A common place name, most notably the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The apostrophe "s" is a critical part of the name.

  • She flew into St. John's International Airport.

Variants and Related Words

• St. John's (proper noun): As mentioned, a distinct city, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Johannine (adjective): Pertaining to the Apostle John or the writings attributed to him.
  • The Johannine literature includes the Fourth Gospel.

Synonyms

• For the city: (No direct synonym; it is a unique proper noun).
• For the river: (No direct synonym; it is a unique proper noun).
• For the apostle: John the Apostle, John the Evangelist, Saint John, Beloved Disciple.

Related Phrases

• "St. John's wort" (noun): A common name for plants of the genus , often used in herbal remedies. The name is traditionally associated with St. John the Baptist, as it blooms around his feast day.
  • She takes St. John's wort for mild depression.

Related Idioms

• "To cry like St. John": This is not a standard idiom. However, in historical or literary contexts, references to the weeping of the prophet Jeremiah are sometimes mistakenly attributed to John. No widely recognized idiom exists specifically for St. John the Apostle.

Noun

1. a port in eastern Canada; the largest city in New Brunswick
2. a river that rises in Maine and flows northeastward through New Brunswick to empty into the Bay of Fundy
3. (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally said to be the author of the 4th Gospel and three epistles and the book of Revelation