DictionaryRoot: insula
Latin

insula

island

Forms

  • insula
  • insul- — Used before other endings.

Origin

An old Latin word of uncertain origin.

Note

An island can supply a model for separation or isolation without literal water.

2 / 2
An elevated view of a broad, rounded tongue of land surrounded by water on three sides, with an unmistakable continuous neck joining it to a larger mainland.
noun

peninsula

puh-NIN-suh-luh/pəˈnɪnsələ/

Land almost surrounded by water but connected to a larger landmass.

Etymology

A peninsula is literally “almost an island”: water nearly surrounds it, but its connection to a larger landmass keeps it from being a true island.

Full entry

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