murray
murray — noun
1. the surname of George Gilbert Aimé Murray (1866–1957), a British scholar who stu
the surname of George Gilbert Aimé Murray (1866–1957), a British scholar who studied ancient Greek literature and philosophy and translated many classical Greek plays into English.
Gilbert Murray's translations of Euripides made Greek drama accessible to English readers.
possessive: Murray's + scholarly work
Students of classics still refer to Murray's work on Aeschylus and Sophocles.
Murray's edition of Medea is still used in university courses on Greek drama.
The Hibbert Journal published several essays on Greek religion by Gilbert Murray.
Usage Note
All biographical senses share the same surname spelling 'Murray.' The given names and full description distinguish the specific person. In writing, always capitalise the surname.
2. the surname of Sir James Augustus Henry Murray (1837–1915), the British lexicogr
the surname of Sir James Augustus Henry Murray (1837–1915), the British lexicographer who served as the first chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
Sir James Murray edited over half of the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.
possessive: Murray's + work / achievement
The OED's first volume was published under the direction of Sir James Murray in 1884.
More than a thousand volunteers sent word quotations to Murray's scriptorium.
Murray's work on the OED laid the foundation for modern English lexicography.
3. the surname of Joseph Edward Murray (1919–2012), an American plastic surgeon who
the surname of Joseph Edward Murray (1919–2012), an American plastic surgeon who performed the first successful human kidney transplant and received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1990.
Joseph Murray's pioneering kidney transplant in 1954 changed the history of medicine.
possessive: Murray's + medical breakthrough
Dr. Murray received the Nobel Prize for his work on organ transplantation.
The transplant team led by Dr. Murray faced many ethical and medical challenges.
Medical students still study Murray's surgical methods in transplant training courses.
4. the surname of Philip Murray (1886–1952), a Scottish-born American labor leader
the surname of Philip Murray (1886–1952), a Scottish-born American labor leader who served as the first president of the United Steelworkers and later as president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
Philip Murray helped organise millions of industrial workers across the United States.
Under Philip Murray's leadership, the CIO became a powerful force in American labour.
possessive: under + person's + leadership
Protests organised by Philip Murray led to better wages for steelworkers.
Murray argued for fair working conditions in meetings with factory owners.
5. a city in northern Utah, United States, located on the Jordan River just south o
a city in northern Utah, United States, located on the Jordan River just south of Salt Lake City. It was named after Eli H. Murray, a governor of the Utah Territory.
Murray, Utah has a population of approximately 50,000 people.
place-name comma: city, state
The city of Murray operates its own public school district and hospital.
Many residents of Murray commute to nearby Salt Lake City for work.
Murray's Intermountain Medical Center is one of the largest hospitals in the region.
Usage Note
The comma convention 'Murray, Utah' is standard in American English when giving the city name followed by the state. As a place name, the word is always capitalised.
Common Mistakes
6. the longest river in Australia, flowing about 2,500 kilometres through southeast
the longest river in Australia, flowing about 2,500 kilometres through southeastern Australia from the Snowy Mountains to the Indian Ocean near Adelaide. It forms part of the border between New South Wales and Victoria.
The Murray River is a vital source of water for farms in southeastern Australia.
Rainfall levels along the Murray have dropped significantly in recent years.
preposition: along the Murray / on the Murray
Houseboats and fishing boats are a common sight on the Murray.
Farmers along the Murray grow citrus fruits and grapes with irrigation water.
Usage Note
Unlike the city (sense 5), this is always 'the Murray River' or simply 'the Murray' — it takes the definite article. The Murray is Australia's most important river system for agriculture.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
Murray is a Scottish surname, originally referring to a person from the region of Moray in northeastern Scotland. The name Moray likely comes from Celtic roots: mor (sea) and treb (settlement), meaning 'seaside settlement.' The Murray River in Australia was named in 1824 after Sir George Murray, a British colonial secretary. The city of Murray, Utah, was named after Eli H. Murray, a territorial governor.