Re: OT: continents

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, # 1 <salut_vous_autre@H...> wrote:
>Do y'all know where I could find the etymology of the continents'
>names?
>Except Oceania, that's obviously derived from ocean, where are the
>other names from?
>I think Europe is a mythologic greek Zeus's lover, mother of Minos,
>and transformed into a white bull so I don't know what's the link
>with a continent..
>But, particularily for Asia and Africa, where are the names from?
>Could someone help me?

Asia - Latin, from Greek, "region of the rising sun," from Akkadian
_asu_, to go out, (of the sun), to set, akin to Hebrew _yatza'_, went
out.

Africa - ?

Europe - Latin _Europa_, from Greek _Europe_, Europe, possibly of
Semitic origin and originally meaning "land of the setting sun."

America - Latin _Americus_, for Italian "Amerigo," first name of
Amerigo Vespucci, Italian navigator who explored the New World
coastline after Columbus.  "Americus" is Latin for the Hungarian
name "Imre."  St. Imre was the son of King St. Stephen of Hungary.
So indirectly America is named after a Christian saint.

Australia - Latin _Terra Australis_, Southern Land.  "Australis"
from "auster," south.

Antarctica - anti + Arctic, opposite the Arctic.
Arctic - Latin _arcticus_, from Greek _arktikos_, from _arktos_,
bear,
from the northern constellation, Ursa Major, the Great Bear.

Charlie
http:\\wiki.frath.net/user:caeruleancentaur

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