Mediterranean
/ˌmɛdɪtəˈreɪniən/noun
The sea between Europe, Africa, and Asia, or the region surrounding it.
Did you know?The name comes from Latin *mediterraneus*, which described land or sea “in the middle of the land,” not from meditation or mystery — but its geography made it the stage for some of history’s most mythic crossings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*medhyo-
“middle”
Latin
Latin
medius
“middle”
Latin
Latin
terra
“land, earth”
Latin
Latin
mediterraneus
“inland; surrounded by land”
Old French
Old French
méditerranéen
“Mediterranean; inland”
Modern English
English
Mediterranean
“of or relating to the Mediterranean Sea or region”