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Italy

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
a map of Italy

Etymology

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    From Old English Italia, borrowed from Latin Italia, from Ancient Greek Ῑ̓ταλίᾱ (Ītalíā), possibly borrowed from Oscan 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 (víteliú). Usually explained as a cognate of vitulus (calf), thus meaning "land of young bulls" in Oscan. In that case, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wet- (year). According to some ancient Greek authors, named after a king Italus or Italos, whose kingdom was on the peninsula.

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Italy

    1. A country in Southern Europe. Official names: Italian Republic and Republic of Italy. Capital and largest city: Rome.
      • 1868, E. S. G. S., Italy and her capital, page 170:
        Rome is the heart of Italy [...]. She was, is, and must ever be, her capital.
      • 19th century, Thomas Hodgkin, Italy and her invaders, title:
        Italy and her invaders
    2. Synonym of Apennine Peninsula

    Meronyms

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    country in Southern Europe
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    Descendants

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    • Japanese: イタリー (Itarī) (dated)
    • Thai: อิตาลี (ì-dtaa-lîi)
    • Yoruba: Ítálì

    Translations

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    See also

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    Anagrams

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