burgess
/'bə:dʤis/
Definition
- Noun:
- A citizen of an English borough: Historically, a "burgess" refers to a freeman or citizen of a borough, a town with special privileges granted by a royal charter. This term was particularly significant in medieval and early modern England.
- A representative of a borough in Parliament: In a historical parliamentary context, a "burgess" was an elected representative for a borough in the House of Commons.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- In the 14th century, every burgess of the town had the right to vote in local elections.
- The two burgesses for the borough of Old Sarum traveled to London to attend Parliament.
Advanced Usage
- "Burgess" as a historical or legal title: The term is now largely archaic but appears in historical documents, legal charters, and discussions of British constitutional history.
- The charter granted the status of burgess to the leading merchants of the town.
Variants and Related Words
- Borough (n): A town or district that is an administrative unit, historically one with rights of self-government granted by a royal charter.
- Burgher (n): A term with a similar meaning, more commonly used in Scottish and European contexts to denote a citizen of a town or city, especially a member of the wealthy middle class.
Synonyms
- Citizen: A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth.
- Freeman: A person who possesses the freedom of a city, borough, or company, often with associated civic rights.
- Townsman: A male inhabitant of a town.
Notes on Different Meanings
- The second definition provided in the reference ("English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)") refers specifically to Anthony Burgess, a proper noun and the name of a famous author. This is a distinct, capitalized usage and not a general meaning of the common noun "burgess."
Noun
-
a citizen of an English borough
-
English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)
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