Palestine
Pronunciation
- IPA: /pæləstaɪn/
Alternative forms
- Palæstine archaic
Origin
From Latin PalaestÄ«na ("Roman province of Palestine"), from Ancient Greek Παλαιστίνη (PalaistinÄ“, "Philistia and the surrounding region"), from Hebrew פְּלֶשֶ×ת (p'léshet, "Philistia, land of the Philistines").
Full definition of Palestine
Proper noun
Palestine
(plural Palestines)- (geography) The region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.
- The West Bank and Gaza Strip, taken collectively, especially if considered to be (the site of) the State of Palestine.
- (historical) Any of four Ancient Roman and Byzantine provinces in the eastern Mediterranean: , Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda and Palaestina Salutaris.
- (historical, technical) A British colonial entity administering approximately the lands of modern State of Israel plus the West Bank and Gaza Strip; the lands administered by this entity.
- (historical, technical, rare) The British League of Nations Mandate for Palestine, of which this region was a part (the remainder being Transjordan, which covered approximately the lands of the modern Kingdom (originally Emirate) of Jordan).
Usage notes
(region) The use of the name Palestine to refer to the region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea has been, since the 20th century, sometimes seen as politically or emotionally charged; indeed, this is true of all terms for this region.
Synonyms
- (the region) Canaan, the Holy Land, Israel, the Land of Israel
- (Roman or Byzantine province) Palaestina
- (country) State of Palestine, Filastin