Britain

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English

Pronunciation

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)

  2. (loosely) The United Kingdom.
  4. The island of Great Britain, consisting of England, Scotland and Wales, especially during antiquity.
  5. England, Scotland and Wales in combination.
  6. (obsolete) Brittany.
  7. (in the plural) The British Isles.
  8. (historical) The British state and its dominions and holdings; the British Empire.
  9. (in the plural) The British Empire.
    • 1874 July 14, The Times:
      The name of 'Britain' […] ought to answer every purpose, or if that be thought too condensed, it may be pluralized into ‘The Britains’.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Descendants
  • → Hawaiian: Pelekāne
  • → Tokelauan: Peletānia
Translations
United Kingdom — see United Kingdom
Brittany — see Brittany

Etymology 2

From Latin Britannus (adjective and noun, plural Britannī), apparently from Brythonic (compare Old Welsh Priten).

Noun

Britain (plural Britains)

  1. (now rare, historical) An ancient Briton.
    • 2002, L. C. Lambdin, R. T. Lambdin, Companion to Old and Middle English Literature, page 12:
      The Britains’ struggles with the Scots and Picts [...] led to the Britains asking the Romans for help in constructing a great wall.

Adjective

Britain (comparative more Britain, superlative most Britain)

  1. (obsolete) Briton; British.

See also

Further reading

Anagrams

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