Argentinean

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to the country located in South America known for its diverse geography and culture; characteristic of the people or culture originating from that nation; pertaining to anything associated with that nation's identity
2. Connected to the southern South American nation famed for its pampas and tango; descriptive of inhabitants or cultural traits from that region; referencing objects, traditions, or qualities tied to that land
3. Associated with a large South American republic bordered by Chile and Brazil; denoting elements related to its citizens, lifestyle, or national heritage; indicating anything deriving from or related to that specific geographical and cultural entity

Etymology: "Argentinean" is a plain formation rather than a story with a single coiner: it combines "Argentina," the name of the country, with the suffix "-ean," which English uses to form adjectives meaning "of or relating to" a place. The name "Argentina" itself derives from Latin "argentum," meaning silver, a reference to the silver sought by early European explorers in the River Plate region. The word "Argentine," used for the same sense, is the older-standing adjective and noun, formed from the same root with the suffix "-ine." Both routes arrive at the same destination, and the "-ean" form is the one that sounds more like an English adjective built on a country's name, parallel to words like "European" or "Korean." Its English history is a matter of ordinary word-formation rather than a notable episode, so the most useful thing to know is that the name's root, "argentum," is also the source of the chemical symbol "Ag" for silver.

Synonyms: Argentinian, Argentine, from Argentina, South American, Latin American