Sicily

From Middle English Sicilie, Sicilye, from Old English Sicilia, from Latin Sicilia, from Ancient Greek Σικελία (Sikelía), from Σίκελος (Síkelos, “Sicel”). Doublet of Sicilia.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪsɪli/, /ˈsɪsəli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Homophone: cicely

Sicily (plural Sicilies) (see usage notes below)

2. The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, an autonomous region of Italy, close to Africa and separated from Tunisia and Libya by the Strait of Sicily.
3. (historical) Synonym of Kingdom of Sicily, a former kingdom controlling the island and some of southern Italy in the medieval and early modern period
4. (historical) Synonym of Kingdom of Naples, a former kingdom controlling southern Italy and claiming sovereignty over the island in the early modern period
5. (historical) Synonym of Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, a former kingdom controlling the island and most of southern Italy in the 19th century

• English proper nouns ending in y usually add an s to form their plural (as in Germanys and Marys). Sicily is an exception to this pattern, as in Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. For more, see English plurals § Plurals of nouns in -y on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Emirate of Sicily
• Sicilian
• Strait of Sicily