Pyrenees
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English Pireneies, partly from Middle French Pyrenees and partly from Latin Pȳrēnaeī (montēs) (literally “Pyrenean (mountains)”),[1] plural of Pȳrēnaeus (“Pyrenean”), from Ancient Greek Πυρηναῖος (Purēnaîos), from Πῡρήνη (Pūrḗnē, “Pyrene”, literally “fruit-stone”) + -αῖος (-aîos).[2]
According to mythology, Pyrene was a daughter of King Bebryx who was loved or violated by Heracles; after fleeing into the wilderness and dying, she was buried by him, and the Pyrenees were said to be named after her.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌpɪɹəˈniːz/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈpɪɹəˌniz/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Proper noun
the Pyrenees pl (plural only)
- The mountain range separating Spain from France, inhabited by Basques in the west, Occitans in the centre-north, Aragonese in the centre-south, and Catalans in the east.
- A wine-producing region and local government area (Shire of Pyrenees) in Victoria, Australia.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
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References
- ^ “Pyrenees, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “Pyrenees”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Middle French
Alternative forms
- Pyrenæes
Etymology
From Latin Pȳrēnaeī (as used in Pȳrēnaeī montēs (literally “Pyrenean mountains”)), masculine plural of Latin Pȳrēnaeus (“Pyrenean”), from Ancient Greek Πῡρηναῖος (Pūrēnaîos), from Πῡρήνη (Pūrḗnē) + -αῖος (-aîos).
Proper noun
Pyrenees m pl
- Pyrenees; ellipsis of mons Pyrenees m pl
- 1587, Histoire generale d’Espagne, page 22:
- Les Pyrenees, qui ont prins leur nom ou de leur embraſement, duquel cy deuant a eſté faict mention (car pyr en grec, c’eſt feu) ou des frequentes fouldres dont leurs poinctes ſont battues, ou bien (ſi on veut receuoir les fables) de la nymphe Pyrene, fille de Bebrix, que Hercules engroſſa paſſant par là, eſtendent leur principale maſſe depuis le temple de Venus, ou cap de Crux, iuſques à Bayone : [...]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)