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Britain

//ˈbɹɪt.ən// adj, name, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Briton; British. obsolete

    "[M]ightie Albion, father of the bold / And warlike people which the Britaine Iſlands hold."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    The United Kingdom, a kingdom and country in Northern Europe including the island of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland on the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. broadly, countable, uncountable

    "There’s a move in the islands to secede from Britain and join Norway or even Denmark — an Orkxit to follow Brexit."

  2. 2
    Great Britain, a large island (sometimes also including some of the surrounding smaller islands) off the north-west coast of Western Europe, made up of England, Scotland, and Wales; especially (but not exclusively) during antiquity. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    England, Scotland and Wales in combination. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    Brittany. countable, obsolete, uncountable
  5. 5
    The British Isles. countable, in-plural, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    The British state and its dominions and holdings; the British Empire. countable, historical, uncountable
  2. 7
    The British Empire. countable, in-plural, uncountable

    "The name of 'Britain' […] ought to answer every purpose, or if that be thought too condensed, it may be pluralized into ‘The Britains’."

Noun
  1. 1
    An ancient Briton. archaic, historical

    "The Britains’ struggles with the Scots and Picts [...] led to the Britains asking the Romans for help in constructing a great wall."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English Britayne, Breteyn, from Anglo-Norman Bretaigne, Bretaine, from Latin Brittannia, variant of Latin Britannia, from Britannī; reinforced by native Old English Breten, from the same Latin source. Ultimately from Proto-Brythonic *Prɨdėn (“Britain”) from *Pritanī (also compare *Prɨdɨn (“Picts”) from *Pritenī), attested to in Ancient Greek as Πρεττανική (Prettanikḗ), compare Welsh Prydain. Doublet of Britannia and Brittany. More at Britto.

Etymology 2

From Middle English brytayn, from Latin Britannus (adjective and noun, plural Britannī), apparently from Brythonic (compare Old Welsh Priten).

Etymology 3

From Middle English brytayn, from Latin Britannus (adjective and noun, plural Britannī), apparently from Brythonic (compare Old Welsh Priten).

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