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Paraguay

[par-uh-gwahy, -gwey; Spanish pah-rah-gwahy]
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noun
  1. a republic in central South America between Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. 157,047 sq. mi. (406,750 sq. km). Capital: Asunción.
  2. a river in central South America, flowing S from W Brazil through Paraguay to the Paraná. 1500 miles (2400 km) long.
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Related formsPar·a·guay·an, adjective, nounpro-Par·a·guay, adjectivepro-Par·a·guay·an, adjective, nountrans-Par·a·guay·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for paraguayan

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • To flee into the Paraguayan forests could not avail him, or only for a short respite.

  • These countries combined their forces and all but annihilated the Paraguayan army.

  • Our recent accumulated Paraguayan difficulties is a case in point.

  • Here in 1868 he met with the fate that had passed him by in the course of the Paraguayan war.

    Uruguay

    W. H. Koebel

  • The band struck up, and a young Paraguayan started the first course.

    Brought Forward

    R. B. Cunninghame Graham

British Dictionary definitions for paraguayan

Paraguayan

adjective
  1. of or relating to Paraguay or its inhabitants
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noun
  1. a native or inhabitant of Paraguay
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Paraguay

noun
  1. an inland republic in South America: colonized by the Spanish from 1537, gaining independence in 1811; lost 142 500 sq km (55 000 sq miles) of territory and over half its population after its defeat in the war against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay (1865–70). It is divided by the Paraguay River into a sparsely inhabited semiarid region (Chaco) in the west, and a central region of wooded hills, tropical forests, and rich grasslands, rising to the Paraná plateau in the east. Official languages: Spanish and Guarani. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: guarani. Capital: Asunción. Pop: 6 623 252 (2013 est). Area: 406 750 sq km (157 047 sq miles)
  2. a river in South America flowing south through Brazil and Paraguay to the Paraná River. Length: about 2400 km (1500 miles)
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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

Word Origin and History for paraguayan

Paraguay

country is named for the river, which is said to be from Guarani para "water" + guay "born." Said to have been the name of a local chieftain who treated with the first Spanish explorers.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
paraguayan in Culture

Paraguay

[(par-uh-gweye, par-uh-gway)]

Republic in south-central South America, enclosed by Bolivia on the west and north, Brazil on the northeast, and Argentina on the south and west.

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Note

Controlled for many decades by a highly repressive military government. A civilian was elected president in 1993.

Note

Reputed sanctuary for Nazi fugitives.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.