Britain

== English == === Alternative forms === Brittain (obsolete) === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɹɪt.ən/, [ˈbɹɪt.n̩] (US) IPA(key): /ˈbɹɪt.ən/, [ˈbɹɪɾ.ᵊn̩], [ˈbɹɪʔ.ᵊn̩] Rhymes: -ɪtən Hyphenation: Brit‧ain Homophone: Briton === 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. ==== Proper noun ==== Britain (countable and uncountable, plural Britains) (loosely) 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. 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. [from 10th c.] England, Scotland and Wales in combination. (obsolete) Brittany. [from 13th c.] (in the plural) The British Isles. (historical) The British state and its dominions and holdings; the British Empire. [from 17th c.] (in the plural) The British Empire. [from 19th c.] ===== Synonyms ===== (island): Gramarye ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== → Hawaiian: Pelekāne → Tokelauan: Peletānia ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English brytayn, from Latin Britannus (adjective and noun, plural Britannī), apparently from Brythonic (compare Old Welsh Priten). ==== Noun ==== Britain (plural Britains) (now rare, historical) An ancient Briton. [from 15th c.] ==== Adjective ==== Britain (comparative more Britain, superlative most Britain) (obsolete) Briton; British. [16th–18th c.] === See also === Great Britain the British Isles the United Kingdom === References === === Further reading === Britain (placename) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === triabin