Brasiliense
/ˌbræzɪliˈɛnsi/noun
A person or thing associated with Brasília, especially a resident of the Brazilian capital.
Did you know?The suffix -ense descends from Latin -ensis, a productive ending used to form geographic adjectives such as those meaning “of Rome” or “of Carthage.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
-ensis
“A suffix meaning “of or belonging to a place,” used in geographic adjectives and demonyms.”
Medieval Portuguese
Portuguese
Brasil
“The name associated with Brazil; its deeper origin is debated, though it was later linked in Portuguese usage to brasa, “ember,” because of the red dye of brazilwood.”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
brasileiro
“A Brazilian person or, originally, someone connected with brazilwood and its trade.”
19th Century
Portuguese
Brasília
“A Latinizing place-name formed from Brasil, later used for Brazil’s planned capital.”
20th Century
Portuguese
brasiliense
“Of or belonging to Brasília; a resident of the city.”
Modern English
English
brasiliense
“A person or thing associated with Brasília, generally used as a loanword from Portuguese.”