Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • American businessman and philanthropist: Ezra Cornell was a 19th-century entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in creating a unified telegraph system in the United States. He is best known as the co-founder of Cornell University in 1865.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Ezra Cornell made his fortune in the telegraph industry.
  • The university library is named for Ezra Cornell, whose vision and endowment made the institution possible.

Advanced Usage

• "Cornellian": A term for a student or alumnus of Cornell University, deriving from Ezra Cornell's surname.
  • As a Cornellian, she felt a deep connection to the legacy of Ezra Cornell.

Variants and Related Words

• Cornell University: The Ivy League institution founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew D. White.
  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York.

Synonyms

• Industrialist: A person involved in the management or development of industry.
• Philanthropist: A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.
• Founder: A person who establishes an institution or settlement.

Noun

1. United States businessman who unified the telegraph system in the United States and who in 1865 (with Andrew D. White) founded Cornell University (1807-1874)