Aegean

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A sea located between the Greek and Turkish mainland, which is rich in history and home to numerous islands renowned for culture and civilization
2. This term describes both the body of water noted for its ancient history and the various island communities that thrived around it
3. A body of water situated between Greece and Turkey, characterized by its historical significance and the many islands that surround it

Etymology: The name of the sea is older than the country of Greece itself as we might picture it, and its most famous explanation is a myth. In Greek legend, King Aegeus threw himself into these waters when he saw the black sails of his son Theseus's ship returning from Crete, believing his son dead; the sea was named for him. The Greek name Aigaios, however, is more likely tied to aiges, the Greek word for "waves," and the myth may have been invented afterwards to explain a name whose original meaning had been forgotten. The English adjective is a straightforward borrowing. It comes from the Latin "aegaeus," which in turn came from the Greek Aigaios, and the English suffix "-an" was added to make it describe things relating to the sea, the islands, or the surrounding lands. The Latin form reached English through classical learning rather than everyday speech, which is why it keeps the spelling of its Latin ancestor.