Mediterranean etymology

Etymology

  • Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase "mare mediterraneum," meaning "sea in the midst of the lands."
  • The word "mediterraneum" is derived from:
    • Medius: Meaning "middle" or "in the midst"
    • Terra: Meaning "land"

Meaning

  • The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by three continents:
    • Europe to the north
    • Africa to the south
    • Asia to the east
  • It is considered a "middle sea" or "sea in the midst of the lands."

Origin

  • The term "Mediterranean" has been used to refer to the sea since ancient times.
  • It was first used by the ancient Greeks, who called it "ἡ Μεσόγειος θάλασσα" (he Mesogeios thalassa).
  • The Romans adopted the term and used it in Latin as "mare mediterraneum."
  • The term has been used continuously since then to refer to the sea that separates Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Mediterranean relate terms

  • medic

    Etymology The word medic is derived from the Latin word medicus which in turn is de

  • medicine

    Etymology The word medicine originates from the Latin word medicina which in turn i

  • Mediterranean

    Etymology Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase mare mediterraneum meaning sea i

  • amid

    Etymology The word amid has its roots in three distinct languages Old English on m

  • intermediate

    Etymology 1590s From Latin intermedius intermediate middle from inter between

  • mean

    Etymology Old English mǣne Proto Germanic mainiz Proto Indo European mei to think

  • medal

    Etymology Old French medaille Latin medalia plural of medalium a coin box or case La

  • medial

    Etymology The word medial comes from the Latin word medialis which means in the mi

  • median

    Etymology The word median comes from the Latin medianus which means middle or in

  • mediate

    Etymology The word mediate derives from the Latin verb mediare meaning to act as a

  • medieval

    Etymology Latin mediaevalis French moyen âge Middle English medieval Meanin

  • mediocre

    Etymology The word mediocre originates from the Latin word mediocris which means h

  • Mediterranean

    Etymology Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase mare mediterraneum meaning sea i

  • medium

    Etymology The word medium originates from the Latin word medius which means middle

  • meridian

    Etymology The word meridian comes from the Latin word meridiānus which is derived

  • mesic

    Etymology Greek mesos middle ikos pertaining to Meaning Adjective Cha

  • mesial

    Etymology The word mesial is derived from the Greek word mesos meaning middle Me

  • meso

    Etymology The word meso is derived from the Ancient Greek word mésos which means

  • meson

    Etymology The word meson originates from the Greek word mesos meaning middle Me

  • Mesopotamia

    Etymology The term Mesopotamia is derived from two Greek words Meso μέσος

  • Mesozoic

    Etymology Mesozoic is a term derived from Ancient Greek meso μέσος meaning

  • mezzanine

    Etymology The word mezzanine derives from the Italian word mezzano which means midd

  • mezzo

    Etymology Italian mezzo half middle Latin medius middle Origin The word

  • mezzotint

    Etymology The term mezzotint is derived from the Italian phrase mezzo tinto which me

  • middle

    Etymology The word middle comes from the Old English word middel which in turn is d

  • Midgard

    Etymology Old Norse Miðgarðr Miðr middle center Garðr fence enclosure

  • midriff

    Etymology Middle English mydref 13th century Old English middref 11th century Pro

  • midst

    Etymology The word midst is derived from two Old English words Mid Meaning middle

  • midwife

    Etymology Mid middle Middle period of pregnancy 4 5 months Wife Archaic term for

  • milieu

    Etymology French milieu meaning middle surroundings Medieval Latin medius loc

  • mizzen

    Etymology The word mizzen originates from the Old French word mizene which itself d

  • moiety

    Etymology and Origin The word moiety comes from the Old French word moitié meaning

  • mullion

    Etymology Old French moulon meaning vertical bar in a window Latin mullus mea

  • inter

    Etymology The word inter comes from the Latin preposition inter meaning between

  • Mediterranean

    Etymology Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase mare mediterraneum meaning sea i

  • metatarsal

    Etymology The word metatarsal comes from the Greek words meta μετά meaning

  • parterre

    Etymology The term parterre is derived from the French word parterre which means

  • subterranean

    Etymology The word subterranean is derived from two Latin words sub meaning under

  • tarsal

    Etymology Latin tarsalis Greek társos foot sole ankle Meaning Relating to t

  • tarsus

    Etymology The word tarsus originates from the Greek word tarsos which means flat s

  • terra

    Etymology Latin terra earth land Proto Indo European ter dry firm Meanin

  • terrace

    Etymology The word terrace is derived from the Latin word terra meaning earth or

  • terra cotta

    Etymology The word terra cotta is derived from two Latin words Terra meaning earth

  • terrain

    Etymology From Middle French terrein from Old French terrain from Latin terrēnus fr

  • terran

    Etymology The word Terran comes from the Latin word terra which means earth Mean

  • terraqueous

    Etymology The word terraqueous is derived from two Latin words terra meaning ear

  • terrarium

    Etymology The term terrarium is derived from the following Latin words Terra meani

  • terrene

    Etymology The word terrene comes from the Latin word terra meaning earth Meaning

  • terrestrial

    Etymology Terrestrial derives from the Latin word terra which means earth or la

  • terrier

    Etymology The word terrier derives from the Latin word terra meaning earth Me

  • territory

    Etymology Territory comes from the Latin word territorium which meant a bounded area

  • thirst

    Etymology Old English þurst noun Proto Germanic þurstiz noun Proto Indo Euro

  • toast

    Etymology The word toast has several possible etymologies Latin tostum meaning

  • torrent

    Etymology and Origin of Torrent The word torrent originates from the Latin word torr

  • torrid

    Etymology Torrid comes from the Latin word torrere meaning to parch or burn Me

  • turmeric

    Etymology The word turmeric is derived from the Middle English word turmeryte which

  • tureen

    Etymology French tourine from Latin turena Latin turena from Ancient Greek τύρ

  • Elmo

    Etymology and Meaning The name Elmo is derived from the Germanic word helm meaning

  • maquis

    Etymology French maquis Italian macchia Greek makhye Meaning Dense low growing v

  • Riviera

    Etymology The word riviera is of Italian origin derived from the Latin word ripa me

  • parsley

    Etymology of Parsley Latin Petroselinum Greek Petroselinon derived from petra meanin

  • mint

    Etymology The word mint has several possible etymological origins Greek mintha t

  • oleander

    Etymology and Meaning The word oleander comes from the Greek rhododaphne which trans

  • Sardinia

    Etymology and Meaning The name Sardinia is derived from the Phoenician word Sard wh

  • Corsica

    Etymology The name Corsica is derived from the Latin word Corsica which was likely d

  • score

    Etymology Old English scoru notch on a stick Proto Germanic skurraz to scratch M