house of burgesses: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “house of burgesses” mean?
The elected legislative assembly of the Colony of Virginia, established in 1619, representing the first legislative body of elected representatives in English North America.
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Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The elected legislative assembly of the Colony of Virginia, established in 1619, representing the first legislative body of elected representatives in English North America.
A historical term referring specifically to the colonial-era legislature of Virginia, often cited as a foundational institution in the development of American representative democracy and self-government.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used almost exclusively in American historical and educational contexts. In British contexts, it is a specific reference to a colonial assembly and is not part of general vocabulary.
Connotations
In American usage, it connotes the origins of self-government and democratic principles. In British usage, it is a neutral historical term for a colonial governing body.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday British English; encountered primarily in American history education and academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “house of burgesses” in a Sentence
The House of Burgesses [verb, e.g., convened, passed, protested]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and American studies to discuss colonial governance and the origins of representative democracy.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A precise term in historiography for the specific lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1643 to 1776.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house of burgesses”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “house of burgesses”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house of burgesses”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a house of burgesses'). It is always capitalized. / Confusing it with the British House of Burgesses, which did not exist; it was solely a Virginia institution.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Burgesses' refers to the elected representatives, specifically the citizens or freemen of a borough or town who were granted the right to vote and send delegates to the assembly.
It first met in 1619 and continued until 1776, when it was replaced by the Virginia House of Delegates during the American Revolution.
Initially, male landowners could vote for burgesses, who were themselves typically wealthy male landowners from the various counties and towns of Virginia.
It is celebrated as a foundational institution of American representative democracy and self-government, setting a precedent for elected legislatures that would later challenge British authority.
The elected legislative assembly of the Colony of Virginia, established in 1619, representing the first legislative body of elected representatives in English North America.
House of burgesses is usually historical/academic in register.
House of burgesses: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈbɜːdʒɪsɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈbɜːrdʒɪsɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Burgesses' sounds like 'burgers' – imagine the first American lawmakers meeting in a house, deciding laws before having a burger. It was the first representative 'house' in the colonies.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SEED OF DEMOCRACY (the institution is seen as an early, foundational form of representative government from which larger systems grew).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary historical significance of the House of Burgesses?