chersonese

chersonese

See also: Chersonese

English

Alternative forms

• (χ transcribed as <ch>)
  • chersonesus (Latin form)
  • chersonesos (with Greek ending)
  • chersoness (obsolete)
  • chersonesse (obsolete)

• (χ transcribed as <kh>)
  • khersonese
  • khersonesos (with Greek ending)
  • khersonesus (with Latin ending)
  • khersoness (rare, obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin Chersonēsus, from Ancient Greek χερσόνησος (khersónēsos, “originally, the Gallipoli peninsula; later, any peninsula”),[1] from χέρσος (khérsos, “dry land”) + νῆσος (nêsos, “island”).[2]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɜːsəˌniːs/[2]

Noun

chersonese (plural chersoneses)

1. (geography, uncommon) A peninsula.[1][2]

Usage notes

Aside from dated, poetic, or rhetorical use,[2] the word typically appears in English transcribing works or descriptions of classical geography: the Greek form chersonese being more common in general and generic use and the Latin form chersonesus appearing in the proper names of various famous peninsulas.

Derived terms

• See chersonesus
• Thracian Chersonese (Gallipoli)

References

1. A Compendium of Ancient and Modern Geography: For the Use of Eton School by Aaron Arrowsmith (1831; E. Williams), page 32:
   A peninsula (χερσόνησος pæninsula, i. e. pæne insula) or chersonese, is a tract of land which is almost an island, being encompassed by water on all sides, expect where it is joined to the main by a narrow neck of land; as the Thracian Chersonese, the Morea, and Spain. The narrow neck of land, which joins a peninsula to the main, is called an Isthmus (ἰσθμός isthmus¹⁰) as the Isthmus of Corinth, the Isthmus of Suez, and the Isthmus of Darien.
2. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. “chersonese, n.”. Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1989.