| Title | philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Phil·a·del·phia \\ˌfi-lə-ˈdel-fyə, -fē-ə\\ geographical name 1. city & port SE Pennsylvania on Delaware River population1,517,550 2. — see alasehir 3. — see Amman • Phil·a·del·phian \\-fyən, -fē-ən\\ adjective or noun English Etymology Philadelphia city in Pennsylvania, U.S., from Gk., taken by William Penn to mean lit. "brotherly love," from philos "loving" + adelphos"brother" (see Adelphi). Also the name recalls that of the ancient city in Lydia, mentioned in the N.T., which was so called in honor of Attalos II Philadelphos, 2c B.C.E. king of Pergamon, who founded it. His title is said to have meant "loving the brethren." Slang shortening Philly first attested 1891; Philadelphia lawyer "clever, shrewd attorney" attested from 1788 in London, said originally to have been applied to Andrew Hamilton, who obtained the famous acquittal of J.P. Zenger on libel charges in 1735. "[C]ricket and coaching were after all popular in their day in places besides Philadelphia. It was merely that Philadelphia kept on with them longer than most places. This is a perennial Philadelphia trick, and gives to Philadelphia a sort of perpetual feeling of loss. Philadelphians are always just now getting rid of things that are picturesque, like those gas lamps on the streets, only because everybody else got rid of them long ago." [Nathaniel Burt, "The Perennial Philadelphians," 1963] Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged phil·a·del·phia \|filə|delfyə, -fēə\ adjective Usage: usually capitalized Etymology: from Philadelphia, Pa. : of or from the city of Philadelphia, Pa. < Philadelphia department stores > : of the kind or style prevalent in Philadelphia : philadelphian |
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