The name of this great S
Preserved but no longer current.
American republic means The Silver Republic and is akin to that of its principal river, Rio de la Plata, turned into English as the River Plate. Buenos Aires, the capital city, was founded in 1535, and direct Spanish rule lasted until 18-16, when a republic was declared.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The name of this great S” mean?
American republic means The Silver Republic and is akin to that of its principal river, Rio de la Plata, turned into English as the River Plate. Buenos Aires, the capital city, was founded in 1535, and direct Spanish rule lasted until 18-16, when a republic was declared.
Is “The name of this great S” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.