- 1n/frænˈsɪskən/the Franciscan order方濟會
The Franciscans are a Christian religious order that Saint Francis of Assisi began in 1209, whose members live a holy life under strict rules. Used like this, with the and in the plural, the name stands for the whole group rather than for one person.
文法複數：這個意思要用複數形式。
the Franciscans 指的是整個修會。這個修會由聖方濟各（St Francis of Assisi）在 1209 年創立。成員照著嚴格的會規過宗教生活。這個意思固定用複數，前面要加 the。它講的是團體，不是某一個人。中文一般說「方濟會」。要講單獨一個成員時，用單數 a Franciscan。
示範例句 · Example
The Franciscans have run a small clinic in this town for over a century.
中文翻譯方濟會在這個鎮上經營一間小診所已經超過一個世紀。
常見搭配
the Franciscans
方濟會（整個修會）
the order as a whole
The Franciscans arrived in the region in 1524.
join the Franciscans
加入方濟會
to become a member of the order
He joined the Franciscans at twenty-five.
founded by the Franciscans
由方濟會創辦
started by the order
The school was founded by the Franciscans in 1890.
意思相近
the Order of Friars Minor
- 2n/frænˈsɪskən/member of the order方濟會的修士或修女
A person who belongs to this religious order and lives by its rules. It covers the friars of the Order of Friars Minor, and, more widely, men and women in the other orders that were built on the same rule of Saint Francis.
文法可數名詞：前面可以加 a/an，要表示複數時常常加 -s。
a Franciscan 指的是修會裡的一個人。可數名詞，前面加 a，也可以說 two Franciscans。傳統上指的是「小兄弟會」的修士。來源也把依照同一套會規成立的其他分支算進來，男女都有。所以 a Franciscan 不一定是男性。跟 the Franciscans 的差別只在範圍：一個是人，一個是整個團體。
常見搭配
become a Franciscan
成為方濟會會士
to enter the order as a member
She became a Franciscan at thirty.
a Franciscan friar
方濟會修士
a male member of the order
A Franciscan friar met us at the gate.
a group of Franciscans
一群方濟會的會士
several members of the order
A group of Franciscans runs the shelter.