Polynesia etymology

Etymology and Meaning:

  • "Poly" (Ancient Greek): "many"
  • "nesia" (Ancient Greek): "island"

Origin:

The term "Polynesia" was coined by the French explorer Charles de Brosses in 1756 in his work "Histoire des Navigations aux Terres Australes." He used it to refer to the numerous islands scattered across the central and southern Pacific Ocean.

Usage:

  • Polynesia refers to a cultural and geographic region that includes the islands of the central and southern Pacific Ocean.
  • It is distinct from Micronesia, which comprises islands further to the north, and Melanesia, which encompasses islands to the southwest.
  • Polynesian cultures share many similarities, including language, customs, art, and navigation techniques.
  • The term is often used today in anthropology, geography, and archaeology to describe the region and its people.

Geographic Boundaries:

  • North: Hawaii and Easter Island
  • Northeast: Marquesas and Tuamotu
  • East: Cook Islands and French Polynesia
  • Southeast: Pitcairn and Rapa Nui
  • Southwest: Niue and Tonga
  • West: Samoa

Polynesia relate terms

  • Chersonese

    Etymology From Ancient Greek Χερσόνησος Chersónēsos Meaning Penins

  • isle

    Etymology Old English īeg īeġ island Proto West Germanic aujō Proto Indo Euro

  • horror

    Etymology Latin horror Proto Indo European kwer meaning to tremble Meaning a

  • Melanesia

    Etymology The term Melanesia is derived from the Greek words Melas μέλας m

  • melano

    Etymology Greek mélas μελάς meaning black melan as a prefix meaning da

  • Chersonese

    Etymology From Ancient Greek Χερσόνησος Chersónēsos Meaning Penins

  • Polynesia

    Etymology and Meaning Poly Ancient Greek many nesia Ancient Greek island

  • Oceania

    Etymology The word Oceania is derived from the Greek word Okeanos which refers to t

  • physiology

    Etymology Greek physis nature physical logia study of Meaning Physiol

  • tradition

    Etymology Latin traditio traditionis a handing over delivery transmission surren

  • plumb

    Etymology The word plumb has two distinct etymologies Latin From the Latin word pl

  • stop

    Etymology The word stop comes from the Middle English word stoppen which itself deri

  • hypothesis

    Etymology Derived from Ancient Greek hypothesis ὑπόθεσις meaning a placi

  • journey

    Etymology and Meaning The word journey originates from the Old French word journee

  • meme

    Etymology The word meme is derived from the Greek word mimema μίμημα which m

  • serious

    Etymology Serious comes from the Latin word serius meaning grave or earnest The

  • discrimination

    Etymology The word discrimination originates from the Latin word discriminare which