enosis

American  

[ih-noh-sis, ee-noh-, e-naw-sees] / ɪˈnoʊ sɪs, iˈnoʊ-, ˈɛ nɔ sis /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a movement for securing the political union of Greece and Cyprus.

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enosis British  

/ ˈɛnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the union of Greece and Cyprus: the aim of a group of Greek Cypriots

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Other Word Forms

• enosist noun

Etymology

Origin of enosis

1935–40; < Modern Greek énōsis, Greek hénōsis union, equivalent to henō-, variant stem of henoûn to unify (derivative of hén, neuter of heîs one) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

The Greeks have publicly promised that in return for self-determination and enosis, the British can get ironclad terms for staying in their Cyprus military installations.

From Time Magazine Archive

This threw Turkish Cypriots into a panic, since they well knew that the announced goal of Makarios and the Greek Cypriots is enosis, that is, eventual union with Greece.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Turks probably trust Caramanlis and Mavros much more than the junta be cause the two civilians have never strongly advocated enosis � unification of Greece and Cyprus.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Greeks outnumber the Turks 4 to 1, and long before the island won its independence from Britain in 1960, many Greek Cypriots wanted enosis, or union with Greece.

From Time Magazine Archive

Makarios at once plunged into the enosis movement, calling for union of Cyprus with Greece, and staged an island-wide plebiscite in which Greek Cypriots voted 97% for enosis.

From Time Magazine Archive