Island | n. [ OE. iland, yland, AS. īgland, &unr_;gland, &unr_;glond; īg, &unr_;g, island + land, lond, land. AS. īg, &unr_;g, is akin to AS. eá water, river, OHG. &unr_;uwa, G. au meadow, Icel. ey island, Dan. & Sw. ö, Goth. ahwa a stream, water, L. aqua water. The s is due to confusion with isle. Cf. Ait, Eyot, Ewer, Aquatic. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. A tract of land surrounded by water, and smaller than a continent. Cf. Continent. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Anything regarded as resembling an island; as, an island of ice. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Zool.) See Isle, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ] Islands of the blessed (Myth.), islands supposed to lie in the Western Ocean, where the favorites of the gods are conveyed at death, and dwell in everlasting joy. [ 1913 Webster ]
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