Mediterranean

Mediterranean
Mediterranean "the sea between southern Europe and northern Africa," c.1400, from L.L. Mediterraneum mare "Mediterranean Sea" (7c.), from L. mediterraneus "midland;" the original sense being of "sea in the middle of the earth," from medius "middle" (see MEDIAL (Cf. medial) (adj.)) + terra "land, earth" (see TERRAIN (Cf. terrain)). The Old English name was Wendel-sæ, so called for the Vandals, Germanic tribe that settled on the southwest coast of it after the fall of Rome. The noun meaning "a person of Mediterranean race" is from 1888.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Mediterranean — Med i*ter*ra ne*an, a. [L. mediterraneus; medius middle + terra land. See {Mid}, and {Terrace}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, with land; as, the Mediterranean Sea, between Europe and Africa. [1913 Webster] 2. Inland; remote… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mediterranean — Mediterranean1 [med΄ə tə rā′nē ən] adj. [< L mediterraneus < medius, middle (see MID1) + terra, land (see TERRAIN)] 1. [m ] Archaic a) far from the coast; inland: said of land b) surrounded, or almost surrounded, by land; landloc …   English World dictionary

  • Mediterranean — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to the Mediterranean Sea or the countries around it. ORIGIN Latin mediterraneus inland , from medius middle + terra land …   English terms dictionary

  • Mediterranean — is spelt with one d, one t, and two rs, as its derivation from the Latin words medius ‘middle’ and terra ‘land’ reminds us …   Modern English usage

  • Mediterranean — /med i teuh ray nee euhn/, n. 1. See Mediterranean Sea. 2. a person whose physical characteristics are considered typical of the peoples native to or inhabiting the Mediterranean area. 3. the, Informal. the islands and countries of the… …   Universalium

  • Mediterranean — [[t]me̱dɪtəre͟ɪniən[/t]] 1) N PROPER: the N The Mediterranean is the sea between southern Europe and North Africa. 2) N PROPER: the N The Mediterranean refers to the southern part of Europe, which is next to the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona has… …   English dictionary

  • Mediterranean — Med|i|ter|ra|ne|an1 [ˌmedıtəˈreıniən] n a) the Mediterranean the sea that is surrounded by the countries of southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East b) the area of southern Europe that surrounds the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean 2… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Mediterranean — Exxon Valdez Pour les articles homonymes, voir Valdés. Exxon Valdez …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mediterranean — Med•i•ter•ra•ne•an [[t]ˌmɛd ɪ təˈreɪ ni ən[/t]] n. 1) geg Mediterranean Sea 2) a person whose physical characteristics are considered typical of the peoples native to the Mediterranean area 3) inf the, the islands and countries of the… …   From formal English to slang

  • Mediterranean — med·i·ter·ra·ne·an || ‚medɪtÉ™ reɪnɪən n. Mediterranean sea; person from a country bordering on the Mediterranean sea adj. of Mediterranean sea; characteristic of the Mediterranean area or peoples …   English contemporary dictionary

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