Bicontinental

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by being located on or pertaining to two continents simultaneously
2. Describing entities that involve or traverse across two separate continental regions
3. Pertaining to something that exists in or extends over two continents at the same time

Etymology: "Bicontinental" is a plain compound: the Latin prefix "bi-", meaning "two", joined to "continental," the adjective from "continent." Its sense follows directly from the parts, describing something that spans or involves two continents, such as a country straddling a boundary between continental landmasses or a route that crosses from one to another. The base word "continental" traces back through Late Latin "continentalis" to Latin "continens," literally "continuous" or "holding together," from "continere," to hold together. A continent, in this sense, is a large unbroken expanse of land, and the adjective describes whatever belongs to such a landmass. The prefix "bi-" is one of the most productive combining forms in English, attached to many nouns and adjectives to mean "two" or "twice."

Synonyms: transcontinental