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The words island and isle are etymologically distinct. Island can be traced back to Old English īgland, composed of two elements īg and land. Land, as we might expect means “land,” but īg means “island” in Old English. In a sense, then, īgland is “island-land.” The English isle, on the other hand, is derived through medieval French from the Latin insula. In the 16th century, under the influence of isle, the letter s was added to iland, the earlier form of island. The verb island did not appear until the 17th century.
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Examples of island in a Sentence
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Nearby, the sleek, monochromatic chef’s kitchen is equipped with oak cabinets and an exceptionally long island, plus top-of-the-line Gaggenau appliances and a butler’s pantry.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Jack Kiyonaga, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2024
In 2012, mass protests erupted over Japan's purchase of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, islands that China claims as its own.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 14 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Island.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/island. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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island
noun
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