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aborigine

 
American Heritage Dictionary:

ab·o·rig·i·ne

aborigines

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(ăb'ə-rĭj'ə-nē) pronunciation
n.
    1. A member of the indigenous or earliest known population of a region; a native.
    2. often Aborigine A member of any of the indigenous peoples of Australia. See Usage Note at native.
  1. aborigines The flora and fauna native to a geographic area.

[From Latin aborīginēs, original inhabitants (folk etymology of a pre-Roman tribal name) : ab-, from; see ab-1 + orīgine, ablative of orīgō, beginning; see origin.]


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This Latinate word, specifically applied since the 16th century to the inhabitants of a country ab origine (from the beginning) has largely given way to aboriginals in the plural. For the singular, the etymologically indefensible form Aborigine has become firmly established in Australia (early 19th century); for the plural, use Aboriginals (with a capital initial letter, in Australian contexts, in both cases). The adjective is always Aboriginal. The abbreviated form Abo, though used in Australia with varying degrees of affection and hostility, is considered offensive.

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A member of an indigenous people existing in a land before invasion or colonization by another race. This term is especially used for the original inhabitants of Australia.


[Ge]

Derived from the Latin word ‘aborigine’ extended to mean the original inhabitants of a country. When used as a proper noun the term usually refers to the indigenous peoples of Australia.

(ab-uh-rij-uh-neez)

The earliest known inhabitants of a region. The term is most often associated with the native hunting and gathering population of Australia, who preceded the arrival of white settlers. (See hunting and gathering societies.)

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For a list of words related to aborigine, see:

Translations:

Aborigine

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - aboriginer, australneger

Nederlands (Dutch)
inboorling, inheems(e) plant/dier

Français (French)
n. - aborigène

Deutsch (German)
n. - australischer Ureinwohner, Eingeborener

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ιθαγενής/αυτόχθων της Αυστραλίας, αβορίγινας

Italiano (Italian)
aborigeno, indigeno

Português (Portuguese)
n. - aborígine (m)

Русский (Russian)
коренной житель

Español (Spanish)
n. - aborigen, indígena

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - urinvånare, inföding

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
土著居民, 土生动物群

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 土著居民, 土生動物群

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 원주민, 토착의 동물

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 原住民, アボリジニ, 土着の動物

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) أحد السكان الأصليين‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תושב קדמון, יליד‬


 
 
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American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
 Fowler's Modern English Usage. Oxford University Press. © 1999, 2004 All rights reserved.  Read more
Oxford Dictionary of Geography. A Dictionary of Geography. Copyright © Susan Mayhew 1992, 1997, 2004. All rights reserved.  Read more
Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. Copyright © 2002, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: Science. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
Random House Word Menu. © 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier. Write Brothers Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
 Rhymes. Oxford University Press. © 2006, 2007 All rights reserved.  Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more

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