ocean etymology

Etymology:

• Latin: Oceanus
• Greek: Ὠκεανός (Okeanos)

Meaning:

• "A great river" or "the river surrounding the world"

Origin:

The term "ocean" is believed to have originated from the Greek word "Ὠκεανός" (Okeanos), who in Greek mythology was the primordial god of the vast body of salt water encircling the world.

Early Usage:

• Ancient Greece: The Greeks used "Okeanos" to refer to the mythological world-encircling river that separated the Earth from the realm of Hades.
• Medieval Europe: The Latinized form "Oceanus" became the standard term for the global expanse of water in Latin and later in Western European languages.

Modern Usage:

Today, "ocean" is used to describe the vast body of salt water that covers over 70% of the Earth's surface. It is divided into five major ocean basins:

• Pacific Ocean
• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Arctic Ocean
• Southern Ocean

ocean relate terms

• oceanic

  Etymology The word oceanic is derived from the Greek word ὠκεανός ōkeanós

• ocean

  Etymology Latin Oceanus Greek Ὠκεανός Okeanos Meaning A great river

• oceanography

  Etymology Ocean from Ancient Greek Ὠκεανός Okeanos the primordial river enc

• ocean

  Etymology Latin Oceanus Greek Ὠκεανός Okeanos Meaning A great river

• monsoon

  Etymology The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word mawsim which means seas

• Hesperides

  Etymology The word Hesperides comes from the Greek word hesperis meaning western

• splash

  Etymology The word splash comes from the Middle English word plaischen which is of o

• Cimmerian

  Etymology The term Cimmerian is derived from the Greek word Κιμμέριοι Kimmér

• pelagic

  Etymology The word pelagic comes from the Greek word pelagos which means sea or

• deep

  Etymology Deep derives from the Old English word dēop pronounced with a long e

• water

  Etymology The word water originates from the Old English word wæter which is deriv

• mare

  Etymology Old English mare feminine noun nightmare goblin Proto Germanic marōn