aboriginal

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See also Aboriginal

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

See Aboriginal.

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (US) IPA: /ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.n̩.l̩/, /ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪn.l̩/
  • (file)

Adjective [edit]

aboriginal (comparative more aboriginal, superlative most aboriginal)

  1. First according to historical or scientific records; original; indigenous; primitive. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][1]
    • 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion, Longman et al. (publishers), page 277:
      Green in the Church-yard, beautiful and green; / [] / And mantled o'er with aboriginal turf / And everlasting flowers.
  2. Living in a land before colonization by the Europeans. [First attested in the late 17th century.][1]
  3. Alternative capitalization of Aboriginal [First attested in the late 18th century.][1]

Synonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Noun [edit]

aboriginal (plural aboriginals)

  1. An aboriginal inhabitant or language. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
    • Charles Darwin
      It may well be doubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these islands.
  2. Alternative capitalization of Aboriginal [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]

Usage notes [edit]

  • Using uncapitalized aboriginal to refer to people or anything associated with people may cause offence.
  • In Canada, style manuals recommend against using the noun Aboriginal for a person or people.
  • See also the usage notes under Aboriginal.

References [edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2003 [1933], Brown, Lesley editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, edition 5th, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7, page 6: