~ 1
■ noun
1》 a large area of land.
2》 an indefinitely large extent of something.
3》 a major passage in the body or other continuous elongated anatomical structure.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'duration or course of time'): from L. ~us 'drawing, draught', from trahere 'draw, pull'.
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~ 2
■ noun a short treatise in pamphlet form, typically on a religious subject.
Origin
ME, appar. an abbrev. of L. ~atus (see ~ate ).
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~ 3
■ noun (in the Roman Catholic Church) an anthem of Scriptural verses formerly replacing the alleluia in certain penitential and requiem Masses.
Origin
ME: from med. L. ~us (cantus) 'drawn-out (song)', past participle of L. trahere 'draw'.