France
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /fɹɑËns/, /fɹæns/
- US IPA: /fɹæns/
- Rhymes: -É‘Ëns
Alternative forms
- Fraunce obsolete
Origin
From French France, Old French France, Latin Francia, from Francī, the name of a Germanic tribe. Etymology of Francī itself is uncertain, but of Proto-Germanic origin, possibly related to Sanskrit firang ("foreign").
A. C. Murray, From Roman to Merovingian Gaul: A Reader. Broadview Press Ltd, 2000. p. 1.
Compare Frank.
Full definition of France
Proper noun
France
(plural Frances)- A country in Western Europe which borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain, is a member state of the European Union, and has a population of 62 million inhabitants. Official name: French Republic (République française).
- 2012, April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election, Hollande told cheering supporters in his rural fiefdom of Corrèze in south-west France that he was best-placed to lead France towards change, saying the vote marked a "rejection" of Sarkozy and a "sanction" against his five years in office.
- Anatole France, a French poet, journalist, and novelist