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Sin·ha·lese

(sĭn′hə-lēz, -lēs) also Sing·ha·lese (sĭng′gə-lēz, -lēs)

n. pl. Sinhalese or Singhalese

1. A member of a people constituting the majority of the population of Sri Lanka.

2. The Indic language of the Sinhalese that is the chief language of Sri Lanka.

adj.

Of or relating to Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese, or their language or culture.

[Sanskrit Siṁhalam, Sri Lanka + -ESE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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