Malaysia

//məlejsiə// name

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A country in Southeast Asia. Capital: Kuala Lumpur.
  2. 2
    The Malay Archipelago. obsolete

    "For the purpose of topographical description, Malaysia may be divided into six groups of islands, namely — 1. Sumatra, and the smaller islands adjacent ; 2. The long chain of islands which extends east and west from the Strait of Sunda to New Guinea, including Java, Madura, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Comobo, Flares, Jindana or Sandelwood, Adenar, Solor, Lomblem, Pantar, Ombay, Timor, Semao, Rotte, Savu, Cambi, Wetter, Serwatty, Babba, Timorlaut, &c. ; 3. The Banda and Molucca Islands ; 4. Celebes and the smaller adjacent islands; 5. Borneo and adjacent islands; 6. The Philippine Islands."

Etymology

Etymology tree Malay Melayuder. English Malay English Malays Latin -iader. English -ia English Malaysia From Malays + -ia, amended from the previous form, Malaya. The ⟨-s⟩ was added to honour the inclusion of Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) with Malaya in the formation of The Federation of Malaysia.

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