Illinois

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Midwestern U.S. state known for its diverse geography and urban centers
2. A region in the United States characterized by prairies, forests, and significant historical landmarks
3. A state famous for the city of Chicago and its pivotal role in American history and culture

Etymology: The name "Illinois" traces back to a word meaning "he speaks the regular way," in the Miami language, a people of the Great Lakes region. The Miami term was adopted by neighboring Algonquian speakers, perhaps Ojibwe, who used it as a name for the people who spoke that way. French explorers and missionaries in the 17th century recorded the name as "Illinois," and the French form is the direct source of the English one. The sense of "speaking the regular way" is a little ironic, since the name was less a self-description than a label others applied. Over time the name shifted from a people to the region they lived in, and eventually to the modern American state.