Ethiopia

[ ee-thee-oh-pee-uh ]
/ ˌi θiˈoʊ pi ə /

noun

Formerly Abyssinia. a republic in E Africa: formerly a monarchy. 409,266 sq. mi. (1,060,000 sq. km). Present boundaries include Eritrea. Capital: Addis Ababa.
Also called Abyssinia. an ancient region in NE Africa, bordering on Egypt and the Red Sea.

Example sentences from the Web for ethiopia

British Dictionary definitions for ethiopia

Ethiopia
/ (ˌiːθɪˈəʊpɪə) /

noun

a state in NE Africa, on the Red Sea: consolidated as an empire under Menelik II (1889–1913); federated with Eritrea from 1952 until 1993; Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the military in 1974 and the monarchy was abolished in 1975; an independence movement in Eritrea was engaged in war with the government from 1961 until 1993. It lies along the Great Rift Valley and consists of deserts in the southeast and northeast and a high central plateau with many rivers (including the Blue Nile) and mountains rising over 4500 m (15 000 ft); the main export is coffee. Language: Amharic. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: birr. Capital: Addis Ababa. Pop: 93 877 025 (2013 est). Area: 1 128 215 sq km (435 614 sq miles) Former name: Abyssinia

Cultural definitions for ethiopia

Ethiopia

Country in northeastern Africa bordered by Eritrea to the northeast, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and Sudan to the west. Formerly called Abyssinia. Its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa.

notes for Ethiopia

Ethiopia is Black Africa's oldest state, tracing its history back more than two thousand years.

notes for Ethiopia

Of all African nations, it most successfully withstood European attempts at colonization, remaining independent throughout its history, with the exception of a six-year period (1935–1941) during which it was occupied by Italy, which was then governed by fascists ( see fascism).

notes for Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the world's oldest Christian nations, having been converted in the fourth century.

notes for Ethiopia

Ethiopia was ruled from 1930 to 1936 and again from 1941 to 1974 by the powerful and charismatic Emperor Haile Selassie I (born Ras Tafari Makonnen). Called the “Lion of Judah,” he claimed direct descent from the biblical King Solomon and Queen of Sheba.

notes for Ethiopia

Selassie was overthrown by a military junta, which proclaimed a communist government and became closely allied with the Soviet Union.

notes for Ethiopia

The junta was overthrown in 1991 and the first multiparty elections were held in 1995.

notes for Ethiopia

The country was plagued by famine and economic chaos in the 1980s and 1990s.