aborigine

[ ab-uh-rij-uh-nee ]
/ ˌæb əˈrɪdʒ ə ni /

noun

one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region.
(initial capital letter) Also Aboriginal. Also called Australian Aborigine. a member of the people who were the earliest inhabitants of Australia.
aborigines, the original, native fauna or flora of a region.

Origin of aborigine

1540–50; by back formation from aborigines < Latin Aborīginēs the pre-Roman inhabitants of Italy, probably alteration of an earlier ethnonym by association with ab origine

Example sentences from the Web for aborigines

British Dictionary definitions for aborigines (1 of 2)

aborigine
/ (ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnɪ) /

noun

an original inhabitant of a country or region who has been there from the earliest known times

Word Origin for aborigine

C16: back formation from aborigines, from Latin: inhabitants of Latium in pre-Roman times, probably representing some tribal name but associated in folk etymology with ab origine from the beginning

British Dictionary definitions for aborigines (2 of 2)

Aborigine
/ (ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnɪ) /

noun

Also called: Aboriginal a member of the indigenous people who were living in Australia when European settlers arrived
any of the languages of this people See also Australian (def. 3)

Cultural definitions for aborigines

aborigines
[ (ab-uh-rij-uh-neez) ]

The earliest known inhabitants of a region. The term is most often associated with the native hunting and gathering population of Australia, who preceded the arrival of white settlers. (See hunting and gathering societies.)