irredenta

[ir-i-den-tuh]

noun

1. a region that is under the political jurisdiction of one nation but is related to another by reason of cultural, historical, and ethnic ties.

Word History and Origins

Origin of irredenta¹

1910–15; < Italian ( Italia ) irredenta (Italy) unredeemed; irredentist

Example Sentences

One reason Italy joined the Allies in World War I was the hope of getting this “unredeemed Italy” — Italia irredenta — as spoils.

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“Well,” said he, “here is a toast in the meantime: ’Italia irredenta!’“

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Italy, for instance, had made her military co-operation conditional on the promise of a large part of Dalmatia, as well as the terra irredenta, and Russia insisted upon having her claim to Constantinople allowed.

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This turning of Russia into a vast "Turania irredenta" was certainly an ambitious order.

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The Italian Nationalists saw in Austria the former oppressor, and still raised the cry of Italia irredenta for the recovery of the Italian districts of Tyrol, Istria, and Dalmatia.

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