European
UK: ˌjʊər.əˈpiː.ən | US: ˌjʊr.əˈpiː.ən
adj. relating to Europe or its people
n. a native or inhabitant of Europe
european = europe<continent name> + an<relating to>
- europe<continent name>: From Latin Europa, borrowed from Ancient Greek Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē), likely of Phoenician origin (possibly meaning "wide-faced" or "land of the setting sun").
- an<relating to>: A suffix derived from Latin -anus, used to form adjectives meaning "pertaining to" or "originating from."
Etymology Origin:
The term European traces back to the mythological Greek princess Europa, abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull. Over time, her name became associated with the continent. The suffix -an was later added in Latin to denote affiliation, creating europeanus (Medieval Latin), which evolved into European in English. The word reflects both geographic identity and cultural heritage tied to the continent.
She is proud of her European heritage.
The European Union promotes economic cooperation.
This painting reflects a classic European style.
He traveled across several European countries last summer.
The conference attracted many European scholars.