Region
/ˈriː.dʒən/noun
An area or district with its own boundaries or characteristics.
Did you know?In ancient Roman religion, a related Latin verb, *regere*, meant not just “to rule” but also “to set straight,” which is why *region* began as a word for a marked-out zone under order and control.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃reǵ-
“to direct, lead, or rule”
Latin
Latin
regere
“to guide, rule, or set straight”
Latin
Latin
regiō
“a direction, district, or administrative area”
Old French
Old French
region
“a district or territory”
Middle English
English
region
“a district, tract of land, or area”
Modern English
English
region
“an area or part of the world with defined or perceived boundaries”