SYRIA

geographical name ancient region SW Asia bordering on the Mediterranean & covering modern ~, Lebanon, Israel, & Jordan, former French mandate (1920-44) comprising the , country SW Asia bordering on the Mediterranean; a republic 1944-58 & since 1961; a province of United Arab Republic 1958-61 capital Damascus area 71,498 square miles (185,180 square kilometers ), population 13,398,000 , ~n adjective or noun