palestine
n. uncountablen. a region in the Middle East located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a place with a very long history and is home to millions of people.
n. a geographic region in the Levant, situated between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. In modern political contexts, it refers to the territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Many people travel to Palestine to see its ancient historical sites.
The cultural heritage of Palestine includes unique traditions in olive oil production, embroidery, and stone architecture.
Scholars of the region often examine how the historical borders of Palestine have shifted over centuries under various administrative and political authorities.
From Middle English Palestyne, from Old English Palestina, from Latin Palaestīna (“Roman province of Palestine”), from Ancient Greek Παλαιστίνη (Palaistínē, “Philistia and the surrounding region”), from Hebrew פְּלֶשֶׁת (p'léshet, “Philistia, land of the Philistines”). The term P-l-s-t or P-r-s-t, found in five Ancient Egyptian inscriptions (beginning with one at Medinet Habu from circa 1170 BCE and ending with Padiiset's Statue inscription from circa 900-850 BCE) as the name of a people near Egypt, is traditionally taken to be cognate. Seven Assyrian inscriptions contain the word "Palas(h)tu" or "Pilistu", which is usually also taken to be cognate.
From Latin Palaestinus, from Ancient Greek Παλαιστινὸς (Palaistinòs). Cognate with Middle French palestin, Palestin.
Usually functions as a proper noun and does not take an article.