VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

Saint Francis of Assisi

proper noun·Advancedreligion

Last updated

UK/seɪnt ˈfrɑːnsɪs əv əˈsiːzi/
US/seɪnt ˈfrænsɪs əv əˈsiːzi/

Meanings

  1. proper nounproperreligion

    An Italian friar born around 1181 who gave up wealth, founded the Franciscan order, and is honored as a Catholic saint.

    Grammar: Always capitalized and used without an article: Saint Francis of Assisi lived in Italy.

    Patterns

    • the order of Saint Francis of Assisi

    Saint Francis of Assisi gave away his family's riches to live in poverty.

    The Franciscan order was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi.

    Tourists visit the basilica where Saint Francis of Assisi is buried.

  2. proper nounproperreligion

    The patron saint of animals and the natural world, often shown with birds and wolves.

    Grammar: Often referred to as the patron saint of ecology: his feast day is October 4.

    Patterns

    • the patron saint of something

    Many churches bless pets on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

    Saint Francis of Assisi is often painted preaching to birds.

    Environmental groups sometimes invoke Saint Francis of Assisi as an example of care for creation.

Common combinations

feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
The feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is on October 4.
Franciscan order
Saint Francis of Assisi started the Franciscan order in the early 1200s.
patron saint of animals
Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals.
basilica of Saint Francis
Pilgrims fill the basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi each year.
Canticle of the Sun
Saint Francis of Assisi wrote the Canticle of the Sun in praise of nature.

Synonyms and how they differ

Saint Francis
Saint Francis is a short form of the same name, used when the context already makes the person clear.
Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi drops the title and is common in history writing.
the Poor Man of Assisi
The Poor Man of Assisi is an affectionate epithet stressing his chosen poverty.

Word family

Franciscan adjective
relating to Saint Francis or his order
Franciscan noun
a member of the order he founded
friar noun
a member of a religious order who lives among people
Assisi proper noun
the Italian town where he was born

Commonly confused: Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Francis Xavier? Saint Francis of Assisi or Pope Francis?

Saint Francis of Assisi vs Saint Francis Xavier

Saint Francis Xavier was a different person, a sixteenth-century missionary who helped found the Jesuits.

Saint Francis of Assisi vs Pope Francis

Pope Francis is the modern pope who chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Practice

Saint Francis of Assisi is best known as the patron saint of what?

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Saint Francis of Assisi”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words