chersonese

English

Alternative forms

• α forms (<ch>-initial — Romanised):
  • chersonesos (with Greek ending)
  • chersoness (obsolete)
  • chersonesse (obsolete)
  • chersonesus (with Latin ending)

• β forms (<kh>-initial — distinguishing χ):
  • khersonese
  • khersonesos (with Greek ending)
  • khersoness (rare, obsolete)
  • khersonesus (with Latin ending)

Etymology

From Latin Chersonēsus, from Ancient Greek χερσόνησος (khersonēsos) (“peninsula”, originally specifically the Gallipoli peninsula), from χέρσος (khersos, “dry land”) + νῆσος (nēsos, “island”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈkɜːsəˌniːs/

Noun

chersonese (plural chersoneses)

1. (now chiefly poetic or rhetorical) A peninsula.