Word definition: American

Etimology


From America +‎ -n, or via Latin americānus.

noun


American (plural Americans)

Any inhabitant of the Americas.

(historical) A citizen or inhabitant of British North America.

(archaic) Synonym of American Indian or Native American, an indigenous inhabitant of the Americas. [from 16th c.]

(uncountable, US printing, rare, dated) A size of type smaller than German, 1-point type.

A citizen or inhabitant of the United States of America.

(informal, humorous, colloquial) The dialect of English spoken in and around the contiguous United States of America.

(clipping of) American cheese.

Examples


The Americans believe that all creatures have souls.

Within a few months the ‘slave Alexandre’ had been successfully transformed into what, across the Channel, was called a ‘blackamoor dandy’. Parisians preferred the more politely euphemistic term ‘American’. ]

Americans! your republican politics, not less than your republican religion, are flagrantly inconsistent. You boast of your love of liberty, your superior civilization, and your pure Christianity, while the whole political power of the nation... is solemnly pledged to support and perpetuate the enslavement of three millions of your countrymen.

...the British ruling class obviously could not admit to themselves that their usefulness was at an end. Had they done that they would have had to abdicate. For it was not possible for them to turn themselves into mere bandits, like the American millionaires, consciously clinging to unjust privileges and beating down opposition by bribery and tear-gas bombs. After all, they belonged to a class with a certain tradition, they had been to public schools where the duty of dying for your country, if necessary, is laid down as the first and greatest of the Commandments.

My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.

Graham Norton: But the people coming up to you now, like the Americans, well, you know, the Americans, they're not shy, the Americans.Maggie Smith: No. Well, no but I don't go anywhere where really they can get at me. It's usually in museums and art galleries and things, so that limits things. I keep away from there, and Harrod's I don't go near.

Roughly two-thirds of Americans default to the General American accent, with other dialects like Southern, AAVE, and Chicano usually being considered lower prestige outside of entertainment and politics.

-A . Spanish ; my mother and father speak American ; my brothers and sisters speak Spanish ; when he is in the house , we speak American ; we have American prayers at night before we go to bed . Q. Is that usual in the families of the […]

“Do you speak American,” then asked the lady.“Oh, naow,” he replied with a still stronger emphasis.“But wouldn't you like to learn American?" persisted the lady.“Oh, naow, thanks," answered this sturdy little patriot.  […]

The fact that they speak American and don ' t wear German uniforms makes them more dangerous than the Jerries themselves . What does your Springfield Plan do about them ? Here is a fighting challenge . In the light of this challenge the […]

Donate for Give. Good American, but not good English.

We sat down in the central square and drank coffee and a man came up and spoke to us in American.

"Where do you keep your cash, bub?" asked Idris hoarsely. His American was better than Hassan's English.

JAMES CARTER: Mr. Rice-a-Roni; don't even speak American.

DON COLLIER: This is an American tank; we talk American.

Related words


synonyms

(person from the U.S.): Yank (UK & Commonwealth); Ameritard (derogatory), Seppo (pejorative); USian, Usonian, United Statian, US-American, United Statesian (rare); see also Thesaurus:American

(person from the Americas): Western Hemispherian, New Worlder (uncommon)

hyponyms

See Thesaurus:North, South, & Native American

adjective


American (comparative more American, superlative most American)

Of, from, or pertaining to the United States of America, its people, or its culture.

(uncommon) Of, from, or pertaining to the Americas.

(historical) Of, from, or pertaining to British North America.

(archaic) Synonym of American Indian and Native American, of, from, or pertaining to the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas.

(finance, of an option, not comparable) Able to be exercised on any date between its issue and expiry.

Examples


He married an American woman in order to get an American passport.

Thanksgiving is an American tradition.

Should you ever be athirst in the great American desert, try this experiment, if your caravan happen to be supplied with a metaphysical professor.

Each new wave of immigration helped meet the needs of American development and made its distinctive contribution to the American character.

...they cannot see through their current biases to realize that a police vehicle with the American flag is the ultimate American expression...

This is pure American powder from the foothills of Colombia.

All of these trade on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Most of the contracts are European. An exception is the OEX contract on the S&P 100, which is American.

Multi-dimensional option pricing becomes an important topic in financial markets . Among which, the American-type derivative pricing is a challenging problem.

Based on the analyses throughout the case study, it is recommended that the use of a model that assumes an ESO is European style when, in fact, the option is American style with the other exotic variables should not be permitted, as this substantially overstates compensation expenses.

Related words


synonyms

(from or related to the USA): Yank (UK & Commonwealth); USian, USAian, Usanian, Usonian, United Statian, US American, United Statesian (rare)

(from or related to the Americas): Western Hemispherian

hyponyms

See Thesaurus:North, South, & Native American

coordinate terms

(timing of option exercise): Bermudan, Canary, European, Verde

proper noun


American

A township in Allen County, Ohio, United States.

Data provided by Wiktionary