Peloponnesus
[pel-uh-puh-nee-suh s]
- a peninsula forming the S part of Greece: seat of the early Mycenaean civilization and the powerful city-states of Argos, Sparta, etc. 8356 sq. mi. (21,640 sq. km).
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Also Pel·o·pon·nese [pel-uh-puh-neez, -nees] /ˌpɛl ə pəˈniz, -ˈnis/, Pel·o·pon·ne·sos [pel-uh-puh-nee-sos, -sohs, -suh s] /ˌpɛl ə pəˈni sɒs, -soʊs, -səs/.
Origin of Peloponnesus
< Latin < Greek Pelopónnēsos (representing phrase Pélopos nêsos literally, island of Pelops with sn > nn)
Also called Morea.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for peloponnesus
Historical Examples
There were thirty-five ships from Peloponnesus, with the Lacedaemonian admiral Pythagoras on board.
AnabasisXenophon
In ancient times this territory was called the Peloponnesus.
He resided at Ephyra, in Peloponnesus, and was conspicuous for his craft.
Roman Antiquities, and Ancient MythologyCharles K. Dillaway
Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia—the central district of the Peloponnesus.
Spar' ta—a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the Eurotas.
Word Origin and History for peloponnesus
Peloponnesus
n.
peninsula of southern Greece, late 15c., from Latin, from Greek Peloponnesos, second element apparently nesos "island" (see Chersonese); first element said to be named for Pelops, son of Tantalus, who killed him and served him to the gods as food (they later restored him to life). The proper name is probably from pellos "dark" + ops "face, eye." But the association with the peninsula name likely is folk etymology. Related: Peloponnesian.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper