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Cannae

American  
[kan-ee] / ˈkæn i /

noun

  1. an ancient town in SE Italy: Hannibal defeated the Romans here 216 b.c.


Cannae British  
/ ˈkæniː /

noun

  1. an ancient city in SE Italy: scene of a victory by Hannibal over the Romans (216 bc )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Or, according to your taste, it already represents the most disastrous defeat for a major power since the Romans were out-generaled at Cannae by Hannibal.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 30, 2026

The pair hit it off - and Cath even ended up singing the traditional Scottish children's song, Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A Bus, to him.

From BBC Mar. 22, 2024

Foley, who is chairman of Cannae, plans to attend Bournemouth’s next home game — against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve.

From Seattle Times Dec. 13, 2022

This tactic has been used by victorious armies for centuries, ever since Hannibal famously encircled the Roman army at Cannae in 216 B.C.

From Washington Post Apr. 19, 2022

Similarly in Rome, two centuries sever the Rome which rose from Cannae from the Rome which administered Egypt and Hispania.

From The Origins and Destiny of Imperial Britain Nineteenth Century Europe by Cramb, J. A. (John Adam)

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