mansion-house

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, impressive house: "mansion-house" refers to a very large, stately residence, often implying grandeur or historical significance.
   • The official residence of a mayor or dignitary: In specific contexts, particularly in British English, "the Mansion House" is the official home of the Lord Mayor of London.

Usage Examples

• A large, impressive house:

  • The old mansion-house stood at the end of the long driveway, surrounded by gardens. (A large, stately residence.)
  • They inherited a crumbling mansion-house from their great-aunt. (A grand but deteriorating large home.)

• The official residence:

  • The Lord Mayor hosted a banquet at the Mansion House. (The official residence of the Lord Mayor of London.)
  • Visitors can tour the historic Mansion House during special events. (The mayoral residence is open to the public.)

Advanced Usage

• "Mansion House" as a proper noun: In the United Kingdom, "the Mansion House" is the specific name for the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, located in the City of London. It is often used in formal or ceremonial contexts.

  • The annual dinner at the Mansion House is a major social event. (A formal gathering at the mayoral residence.)

• "mansion-house" as a historical term: In older texts, "mansion-house" can refer to the principal house of a manor or estate, often synonymous with "manor house."

  • The squire lived in the mansion-house, while the tenants occupied the cottages. (The main residence of a landed estate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mansion (n): a large, impressive house (a simpler, more common form of "mansion-house").

  • They bought a mansion in the countryside. (A large, luxurious house.)

• Manor house (n): the main house of a manor, often similar in size and status to a mansion-house.

  • The manor house has been converted into a hotel. (A historical estate house.)

• Manor (n): a large country house with lands; the administrative unit of a feudal estate.

  • He is the lord of the manor. (The owner of a manor estate.)

Synonyms

• Manor: a large house with land, often historical.
• Stately home: a large, impressive house, especially one open to the public.
• Palace: a very large, grand residence, typically of royalty.
• Villa: a large, luxurious country house, often in a rural or suburban setting.

Related Idioms

• No specific idioms are directly associated with "mansion-house." However, the word "mansion" appears in the idiom "a mansion in the sky" (an unrealistic dream or fantasy), but this does not apply to "mansion-house."

Phrasal Verbs

• No phrasal verbs are formed with "mansion-house." The word is primarily used as a noun.