Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A surname of Irish origin, most commonly associated with several notable American and British individuals from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan are still performed today.
  • Anne Sullivan Macy is famous for her work as Helen Keller's teacher.
  • The architectural principle "form follows function" is attributed to Louis Sullivan.

Advanced Usage

• The name is often used in a possessive form to denote the work or theories of a specific individual.
  • That building is a fine example of Sullivan's early style.
  • The festival will feature a night of Gilbert and Sullivan's greatest hits.

Variants and Related Words

• Gilbert and Sullivan: A fixed phrase referring to the Victorian-era partnership of librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, known for their comic operettas.
  • The theater company specializes in Gilbert and Sullivan productions.

Different Meanings (Specific Individuals)

1. Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900): English composer, best known for his operetta collaborations with W. S. Gilbert.
2. Anne Sullivan (1866–1936): American teacher, instructor and lifelong companion to Helen Keller.
3. Ed Sullivan (1902–1974): American television personality, host of .
4. Harry Stack Sullivan (1892–1949): American psychiatrist who developed interpersonal theory.
5. Louis Sullivan (1856–1924): American architect, a pioneer of the modern skyscraper.

Synonyms

• (As a surname, there are no direct synonyms. Context determines the specific person.)

Related Idioms/Phrases

• (Waiting for) Godot: While not directly about Sullivan, this famous play by Samuel Beckett is sometimes mistakenly referenced as "" due to phonetic similarity, highlighting the name's cultural recognition.

Noun

1. English composer of operettas who collaborated with the librettist William Gilbert (1842-1900)
2. United States educator who was the teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller (1866-1936)
3. United States host on a well known television variety show (1902-1974)
4. United States psychiatrist (1892-1949)
5. United States architect known for his steel framed skyscrapers and for coining the phrase `form follows function' (1856-1924)