Amazon

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.2 Noun 1.1.2.1 Translations 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Adjective 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.2.2 Proper noun 1.2.2.1 Translations 1.2.3 Derived terms 1.2.4 Noun 2 Latin 2.1 Noun 2.1.1 Inflection

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English < Latin < Ancient Greek Ἀμαζών (Amazōn). The Greeks said the word meant breastless: ἀ- (a-) "not" + μαζός (mazos) "breast" (from the Greek myth that the warrior women were so dedicated to excel in war that they amputated one breast so that it would not interfere with the strap used to hold their quiver of arrows). The Greek etymology is most probably incorrect and comes from a much older word, an Ionian Greek pronunciation of the Old Persian word 𐏃𐎶𐏀𐎴 (hamazan), “‘fight as a group’”), as the Amazon women were known warriors. Ionians did not aspirate the first syllable, and the word became "amazon" to the Greeks in general. The incorrect Greek etymology probably gave rise to the myth that Amazon women would amputate a breast in order to fight proficiently, an anecdote which is almost certainly not true.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈæməzən/
• (US) IPA: /ˈæməzɑːn/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

Amazon (plural Amazons)

1. (Greek mythology) a member of a mythical race of female warriors inhabiting the Black Sea area
2. A female warrior.
3. A tall, strong, or athletic woman.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Spanish, Río Amazonas. It is common belief that the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana fought a battle against a tribe of Tapuya savages, in which the women fought alongside the men. He no doubt derived the name from the Amazons in Greek mythology.

[edit] Adjective

Amazon

1. relating to the area around the Amazon River in South America (e.g., the Amazon Basin, the Amazon Rainforest); or referring to the river itself, The Amazon

[edit] Translations

[edit] Proper noun

Amazon

1. (geography) A river of South America that flows through Brazil for about 4000 miles to the South Atlantic.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• Amazonian
• Amazon milk frog

[edit] Noun

amazon

1. Any of the large parrots from the genus Amazona.

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[edit] Latin

[edit] Noun

Amāzon (genitive Amāzonis); f, third declension

1. an Amazon
2. a female warrior

[edit] Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	Amāzon	Amāzonēs
genitive	Amāzonis	Amāzonum
dative	Amāzonī	Amāzonibus
accusative	Amāzonem	Amāzonēs
ablative	Amāzone	Amāzonibus
vocative	Amāzon	Amāzonēs