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cathay

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Cathay (name) means China, in particular medieval northern China as reached overland by the Silk Road route to Xi'an or Beijing, not recognised at the time as linked to southern China, accessed instead by sea via Guangzhou.

name

China, in particular medieval northern China as reached overland by the Silk Road route to Xi'an or Beijing, not recognised at the time as linked to southern China, accessed instead by sea via Guangzhou.

The name of a settlement in North Dakota.

A shortened form of Cathay Pacific.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

From Latin Cathaya, variant of Cataya, from Old Turkic 𐰶𐰃𐱃𐰪 (Qïtań), and ultimately from Khitan 𘱿𘲫 (*qid ún); the Khitan people who conquered northern China as the Liao dynasty in the 10th century and ruled the central Asian Qara Khitai Khanate in the 12th, just prior to the overland European missions to China occasioned by the Pax Mongolica. Most likely cognate with Mongolian хутга (xutga, “knife”) from Proto-Mongolic *kïtuga. Doublet of Khitan. Cognate with Russian Кита́й (Kitáj, “China”). See Names of China.

Rhymes for cathay

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of cathay?

"cathay" (name) means china, in particular medieval northern China as reached overland by the Silk Road route to Xi'an or Beijing, not recognised at the time as linked to southern China, accessed instead by sea via Guangzhou.

What are the different meanings of cathay?

"cathay" has 3 main meanings: 1. China, in particular medieval northern China as reached overland by the Silk Road route to Xi'an or Beijing, not recognised at the time as linked to southern China, accessed instead by sea via Guangzhou; 2. The name of a settlement in North Dakota; 3. A shortened form of Cathay Pacific.