chersonese

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See also: Chersonese

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Latin Chersonēsus, from Ancient Greek χερσόνησος (khersónēsos, originally, the Gallipoli peninsula; later, any peninsula),[1] from χέρσος (khérsos, dry land) + νῆσος (nêsos, island).[2]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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chersonese (plural chersoneses)

  1. (geography, uncommon) A peninsula.[1][2]

Usage notes

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Aside from dated, poetic, or rhetorical use,[2] the word typically appears in English transcribing works or descriptions of classical geography: the anglicized form chersonese being more common in general and generic use and the Latin form chersonesus appearing in the proper names of various famous peninsulas.

Derived terms

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 A Compendium of Ancient and Modern Geography: For the Use of Eton School by Aaron Arrowsmith (1831; E. Williams), page 32:
    A peninsula (χερσόνησος pæninsula, i. e. pæne insula) or chersonese, is a tract of land which is almost an island, being encompassed by water on all sides, except where it is joined to the main by a narrow neck of land; as the Thracian Chersonese, the Morea, and Spain. The narrow neck of land, which joins a peninsula to the main, is called an Isthmus (ἰσθμός isthmus10) as the Isthmus of Corinth, the Isthmus of Suez, and the Isthmus of Darien.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed.chersonese, n.”. Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1989.