Massilia

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin Massilia.

Noun

Massilia

  1. (historical) A city in Gallia Narbonensis, now Marseille.
    Synonym: Massalia

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Μασσαλία (Massalía), possibly an Ancient Ligurian toponym or perhaps from Ancient Greek μάσσων (mássōn, further) +‎ ἅλς (háls, sea), literally (city) on far end of the sea cf. Ancient Greek παραλία (paralía).

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Massilia f sg (genitive Massiliae); first declension

  1. Marseille (the capital city of Bouches-du-Rhône department, in modern France; the capital city of the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)
  2. (historical) Massilia (a city in Gallia Narbonensis, now Marseille)

Declension

First-declension noun, with locative, singular only.

singular
nominative Massilia
genitive Massiliae
dative Massiliae
accusative Massiliam
ablative Massiliā
vocative Massilia
locative Massiliae

Descendants

  • English: Marseille, Massilia, marcella
  • French: Marseille
  • Italian: Marsiglia
  • Occitan: Marselha
  • Portuguese: Marselha
  • Spanish: Marsella

References

  • Massilia”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • Massilia in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.