Egypt

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈiː.dʒɪpt/

Alternative forms

• Ægypt archaic

Origin

From Middle French Egypte, from Latin Aegyptus, from Ancient Greek Αἴγυπτος, from Mycenaean Greek *aikupitos (nb. 𐁁𐀓𐀠𐀴𐀍 (aikupitijo, "Egyptian")), from Late Egyptian Hikuptah ("Memphis"), from Middle Egyptian ḥwt k3 ptḥ (literally, 'The temple of the ka of Ptah', referring to Ptah's temple in the important city of Memphis).

Full definition of Egypt

Proper noun

1. A country in North Africa. Official name: Arab Republic of Egypt.
2. (historical) A civilization based around the river Nile, on its lower reaches nearer the Mediterranean.

Synonyms

• (modern country) Arab Republic of Egypt
• (civilization) Ancient Egypt , Egyptian civilization

Derived terms

• Egyptian
• gypsy