Ukraine
WordNet
noun
(1) A republic in southeastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; the center of the original Russian state which came into existence in the ninth century
WiktionaryText
English
Alternative forms
- Ocraine
- Ukrain
- Ukrania, Ucrania
Etymology
1688 Ucrania, Ukrain, Ukraine, Ukrania, 1762 Ocraine. Adaptation of , , or , from the specific use, originally meaning “borderland” or “marches”. From + . Details in Wikipedia: Name of Ukraine.
Proper noun
- A country in Eastern Europe; was long part of the Russian Empire, then of the Soviet Union. Official name: Ukraine.
Usage notes
Since the country's independence in 1991, style guides recommend Ukraine, without an article. Previously, the most common usage was the Ukraine.
See also
- Countries of the world
- Little Russia
- Ruthenia