saguenay
saguenay Lexical Profile
• noun
Canadian A city in the province of Quebec, Canada, situated on the Saguenay River, formed in 2002 by the amalgamation of several municipalities including Chicoutimi and Jonquière.
Canadian A major river in Quebec, Canada, that flows eastward from Lac Saint-Jean to join the Saint Lawrence River, known for its deep fjord.
Canadian A legendary, supposedly wealthy kingdom situated in northern North America, tales of which were recounted by Indigenous peoples to early French explorers.
"Early French colonial expeditions were driven in part by the elusive promise of discovering the rich Kingdom of Saguenay."
Word Nuance & Usage
In English usage, 'Saguenay' can refer interchangeably to the modern Canadian city, the prominent river, or the broader geographic region in Quebec. It must always be capitalized as a proper noun.
• Rhymes for saguenay
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from an Algonquin word, possibly 'Saki-nip', meaning 'where water flows out'. The name first entered European records through 16th-century French explorer Jacques Cartier, who heard tales from the Iroquoian people of a wealthy, legendary 'Kingdom of Saguenay'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.