Definition

1. Noun:
   • The owner or manager of an inn: "Boniface" refers to a person who owns or is in charge of running an inn or a tavern.
   • (Historical/Religious Figure): An Anglo-Saxon missionary (680-754) sent to Frisia and Germany to spread Christianity; martyred in Frisia. Also known as Saint Boniface.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Innkeeper):

  • The jovial boniface welcomed every traveler with a warm meal and a story.
  • As the boniface of the old coaching inn, he knew all the local gossip.

• Noun (Historical Figure):

  • Boniface is credited with converting many Germanic tribes to Christianity.
  • The feast day of Saint Boniface is celebrated on June 5th.

Advanced Usage

• Archaic/Literary Use: The term "boniface" for an innkeeper is now considered archaic or literary. It is often used to evoke a historical or quaint setting.
  • The novel's setting was a rustic tavern run by a friendly boniface.

Variants and Related Words

• Innkeeper: (n) A more common, modern synonym for the owner/manager of an inn.
• Landlord/Landlady: (n) A person who owns or runs a pub or boarding house.
• Host: (n) A person who receives or entertains guests, often in a commercial establishment.
• Saint Boniface: (n) The full title for the historical religious figure.

Synonyms

• Innkeeper
• Tavern keeper
• Publican (chiefly British)
• Host

Notes on Meaning

• The two meanings of "boniface" are distinct and unrelated. The innkeeper meaning originates from a character, "Boniface the Innkeeper," in a 17th-century play. The historical figure is a separate, specific person.
• In modern English, the innkeeper sense is rare and primarily found in historical contexts or literature. The historical figure is the more common reference in religious or historical discussions.

Noun

1. the owner or manager of an inn
2. (Roman Catholic Church) Anglo-Saxon missionary who was sent to Frisia and Germany to spread the Christian faith; was martyred in Frisia (680-754)