Oasis

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əʊˈeɪsɪs/

Definitions

1. A green, fertile spot in a desert where water is found ; a place or situation providing comfort or relief from difficulties
2. An area of vegetation surrounded by arid land, often with a water source ; a setting that offers shelter or a peaceful break from hardship
3. A moist or fertile location in a dry desert environment ; a refuge or haven that gives rest and ease amidst challenges

Etymology: The word's ancestor was an Egyptian term for a fertile desert pocket, wḥꜣt, which could also mean "cauldron," perhaps a nod to the basin-like hollows where water collects in the sand. Ancient Egyptian passed it into Demotic, the later everyday script of Egypt, and from there it reached Greek as "Óasis," where it became the standard name for the scattered habitable spots in the Libyan desert west of the Nile. Latin then borrowed the Greek form, and the Late Latin "Oasis" carried it into the languages of Western Europe. The Coptic word "ouahe" shows the same root surviving in Egypt's own Christian language, and Arabic "wāḥa," meaning a similar green spot in the desert, is a close relative in the same family of words. English took the term from Latin, so the word ended up describing a place of water and greenery in a landscape that is otherwise barren.

Synonyms: haven, sanctuary, refuge, respite, retreat

Antonyms: desert, barren, wasteland, hell, chaos