canterbury pilgrims: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “canterbury pilgrims” mean?
The group of travelers from Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century work 'The Canterbury Tales' who journey to Canterbury Cathedral.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The group of travelers from Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century work 'The Canterbury Tales' who journey to Canterbury Cathedral.
A historical and literary reference to the diverse characters in Chaucer's frame narrative, often used to symbolize medieval English society, storytelling tradition, or a journey with varied companions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally recognized in both varieties due to its status as a cornerstone of English literature. Slightly higher cultural salience in the UK due to geographical and historical proximity.
Connotations
In both: Literary heritage, medieval history, social satire, foundational English text. In the UK, may have stronger local/touristic associations with Canterbury.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation. Appears almost exclusively in literary, historical, or educational contexts. Frequency is comparable in both varieties within those contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “canterbury pilgrims” in a Sentence
[The] Canterbury pilgrims + verb (gathered, told, journeyed)a tale/story/narrative of the Canterbury pilgrimsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canterbury pilgrims” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The characters are Canterbury-pilgriming their way through the Kent countryside.
- He Canterbury-pilgrimed across the south-east, collecting stories.
American English
- The reenactors are Canterbury pilgriming along the old route.
- She Canterbury pilgrimed her way through the seminar, telling anecdotes.
adverb
British English
- They travelled Canterbury-pilgrimly, stopping at every inn for a tale.
- The group proceeded Canterbury-pilgrim-wise, with no particular haste.
American English
- They walked Canterbury pilgrim-style, sharing stories as they went.
- The meeting unfolded Canterbury pilgrimly, with everyone getting a turn to speak.
adjective
British English
- The play had a Canterbury-pilgrim atmosphere, with its mix of characters.
- It was a Canterbury-pilgrim sort of journey, full of digressions.
American English
- The conference felt Canterbury-pilgrim-esque, with all its diverse attendees.
- They shared a Canterbury-pilgrim camaraderie on the long bus ride.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, history, and medieval studies courses when discussing Chaucer, frame narratives, or medieval society.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by someone discussing classic literature or a trip to Canterbury.
Technical
Used as a proper noun in literary criticism and historical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canterbury pilgrims”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canterbury pilgrims”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canterbury pilgrims”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'We were canterbury pilgrims' – incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'Canterberry' or 'Canterburry'.
- Confusing it with other pilgrim groups (e.g., Pilgrim Fathers).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are fictional characters created by Geoffrey Chaucer, though they are based on archetypes of real medieval people.
In the General Prologue, Chaucer describes 29 pilgrims, plus the Host (Harry Bailey) and Chaucer himself as a character, making a company of 31.
No, it is a specific literary-historical reference. Using it for modern visitors would be incorrect and confusing.
They are traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.
The group of travelers from Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century work 'The Canterbury Tales' who journey to Canterbury Cathedral.
Canterbury pilgrims is usually literary, academic, historical in register.
Canterbury pilgrims: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæntəb(ə)ri ˈpɪlɡrɪmz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæntərˌbɛri ˈpɪlɡrəmz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A regular Canterbury pilgrimage (archaic: a long, story-filled journey with companions)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CANTErbury horse carrying a PILGRIM with a book of TALES. CANTErbury PILGRIMS = Chaucer's Tales.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A PILGRIMAGE; SOCIETY IS A CARAVAN OF STORYTELLERS.
Practice
Quiz
In what context is the phrase 'Canterbury pilgrims' primarily used?