hampton

hampton — noun

1. Wade Hampton (1751–1835), a military officer from South Carolina who commanded t

1.noun
Definition

Wade Hampton (1751–1835), a military officer from South Carolina who commanded troops during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and later represented his state in the United States Congress.

Example

Wade Hampton raised and paid for his own cavalry unit during the Revolutionary War.

proper noun as historical figure

The elder Hampton served in the House of Representatives after retiring from military duty.

Common collocations
  • Wade Hampton's cavalry
  • the elder Hampton
  • Hampton served in Congress
  • General Wade Hampton
Synonyms
  • Wade Hampton I

    scholarly convention for the grandfather to distinguish from his grandson

  • the elder Hampton

    common phrase in historical writing to differentiate the two Wade Hamptons

Usage Note

This sense refers to the grandfather (Wade Hampton I), as distinct from his grandson of the same name (sense 2). Historical writing typically uses 'the elder Hampton' or 'Wade Hampton I' to avoid confusion between the two men.

Common Mistakes

Wade Hampton was a Confederate general during the Civil War.
Wade Hampton (the elder) fought in the Revolutionary War, not the Civil War.
Wade Hampton I died in 1835, before the Civil War began.

2. Wade Hampton (1818–1902), the grandson of the first Wade Hampton; a Confederate

2.noun
Definition

Wade Hampton (1818–1902), the grandson of the first Wade Hampton; a Confederate cavalry commander during the American Civil War who later became governor of South Carolina and a United States senator.

Example

Wade Hampton organised the Hampton Legion, a unit of infantry and cavalry, in 1861.

proper noun as military organiser

After the Civil War, Hampton was elected governor of South Carolina in 1876.

Common collocations
  • the Hampton Legion
  • Governor Hampton
  • Senator Hampton
  • Hampton's cavalry division
Synonyms
  • Wade Hampton III

    scholarly numbering to distinguish him from his grandfather (Wade Hampton I) and father (Wade Hampton II)

  • the younger Hampton

    common historical phrase to distinguish the grandson from the elder Wade Hampton

Usage Note

This sense refers to the grandson (Wade Hampton III). He is the more famous of the two Wade Hamptons and the one most commonly referred to as 'Wade Hampton' in American history textbooks about the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Common Mistakes

Hampton fought in the War of 1812.
Wade Hampton (the younger) was born in 1818, too late to fight in the War of 1812.
the Confederate general was born after the war his grandfather fought in.

3. A city in southeastern Virginia, United States, located on the Hampton Roads har

3.noun
Definition

A city in southeastern Virginia, United States, located on the Hampton Roads harbour. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited English-speaking settlements in America, dating back to 1610, and is home to a major NASA research centre and several military bases.

Example

Hampton, Virginia, was founded in 1610 and is older than the city of New York.

place name + state in apposition

The NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton develops new aircraft and spacecraft technology.

Common collocations
  • downtown Hampton
  • the port of Hampton
  • Hampton Roads
  • Hampton University
  • Fort Monroe in Hampton

Usage Note

Used without the definite article ('in Hampton') unless the full name 'the city of Hampton' is employed. The city shares its name with the Hampton Roads waterway and the Hampton University institution, all derived from the same English place name. Distinguish from Hampton, a town in southwest London, England.

Common Mistakes

The Hampton is located in Virginia.
Hampton is located in Virginia.
city names in English do not normally take the definite article.
Hampton, Virginia is the same as Hampton Court Palace.
Hampton, Virginia, is a different place from Hampton Court in London, England.
learners may confuse the American city with the English palace and its surrounding area.

Word family

  • Hamptonian
    noun

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Hampton Roads
  • Hampton University
  • Fort Hampton
  • the city of Hampton
  • Hampton harbour
  • Hampton's cavalry
  • the Hampton Legion
  • Governor Hampton
  • Senator Hampton

Phrases

  • the elder Hampton
  • the younger Hampton
  • Hampton, Virginia

Prepositions

  • in Hampton
  • to Hampton
  • from Hampton
  • near Hampton
  • off the coast of Hampton
  • at Hampton

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The name Hampton comes from Old English 'hām' (home, village, homestead) combined with 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement, farmstead), meaning a home settlement or village estate. It originated as an English place name and later became a common surname. The American city of Hampton, Virginia, was named after the English town, and the Wade Hampton family of South Carolina carried the surname from their English ancestors.