Monaco

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A small sovereign city-state located on the French Riviera, known for its wealth and as a tax haven
2. A principality famous for its luxurious casinos and the annual Formula One Grand Prix race
3. A destination renowned for its Mediterranean climate, historic architecture, and prestigious yacht harbor

Etymology: The name of the Mediterranean principality is ancient, and its most famous explanation is a Greek folk etymology. Ancient Greek writers knew the place as "Mónoikos," and it was linked early on to Hercules, who was said to have had a temple there. The name was then read as meaning "he who dwells alone," built from "mónos" ("alone") and "oikéō" ("to dwell"), a tidy story that fits a rocky headland cut off from the mainland. That reading is probably a later back-formation rather than the true origin. The name itself is of unknown origin, and it may come from Ligurian, the language of the people who lived along this coast before the Greeks and Romans arrived. The Greek words were attached to a name that was already there, which is how many place names acquire explanations that sound plausible but may not be accurate.

Synonyms: principality, sovereign state, city-state