Illinois

¹

[ il-uh-noior, sometimes, -noiz ]

noun

, plural Il·li·nois [il-, uh, -, noi, -, noiz].

1. a member of a confederacy of North American Indians of Algonquian stock, formerly occupying Illinois and adjoining regions westward.
2. the Algonquian language of the Illinois and Miami Indians.

Illinois

²

[ il-uh-noior, sometimes, -noiz ]

noun

1. a state in the central United States: a part of the Midwest. 56,400 sq. mi. (146,075 sq. km). : Springfield. : IL (for use with zip code), Ill.
2. a river flowing southwest from northeastern Illinois to the Mississippi River: connected by a canal with Lake Michigan. 273 miles (440 km) long.

Illinois

/ ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ /

noun

1. a state of the N central US, in the Midwest: consists of level prairie crossed by the Illinois and Kaskaskia Rivers; mainly agricultural. Capital: Springfield. Pop: 12 653 544 (2003 est). Area: 144 858 sq km (55 930 sq miles) AbbreviationIll.with zip codeIL
2. a river in Illinois, flowing SW to the Mississippi. Length: 439 km (273 miles)

Illinois

1. State in the north-central United States bordered on the north by Wisconsin , the east by Indiana , the south by Kentucky , and the west by Missouri and Iowa . Its capital is Springfield, and its largest city is Chicago .

Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of Illinois with a final [z], which occurs chiefly among less educated speakers, is least common in Illinois itself, increasing in frequency as distance from the state increases.

Notes

Known as the “Land of Lincoln” because Abraham Lincoln began his political career there.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Illinois¹

1715–25, Americanism; < French, earlier Eriniouai, Ilinoués, etc., from an unidentified Algonquian language, apparently literally, “one who sounds normal” (i.e., “a person who speaks an Algonquian language”), equivalent to the (unattested) Proto-Algonquian elements elen- “ordinary” + -we “make sound”

Example Sentences

In February, Democratic lawmakers in at least five states — Maryland, Rhode Island, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky — introduced pro-statehood resolutions, according to a count by The Washington Post using a database of bills compiled by Quorum.

From Washington Post

The Terrapins added another layer to their recent dominance with a suffocating defensive effort that basically decided Wednesday’s game against Illinois in the first six minutes.

From Washington Post

Yeah, Candace Parker was the obvious fit here, coming home after 17 years away from Naperville, Illinois.

From FiveThirtyEight

Illinois has 1,289, including 512 that target employment, 177 political and civic regulations, 30 housing restrictions, and 50 policies that regulate family life.

From Time

Rutgers rolled to a 7-1 start with victories over Illinois, Maryland, Purdue and Syracuse, only to drop five in a row.

From Washington Post

Hart Electric LLC An Illinois- based manufacturer of electrical components, and H.I. Cable.

From The Daily Beast

Korte Luitjohan Contractors An Illinois-based full-service construction contractor.

From The Daily Beast

A bounty hunter told AFP that the suspected Texan could very well be Everett Livvix of Robinson, Illinois.

From The Daily Beast

Added Kinzinger, the Illinois rep, "We have to level the playing field in terms of creating a no-fly zone."

From The Daily Beast

It was the moment that led Ryan to order a moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois.

From The Daily Beast

Tornadoes occurred in Alabama, Missouri and Illinois, accompanied with extensive damage to property.

From Project Gutenberg

I will give a stone from either Wisconsin, Illinois, or Colorado for one from any other locality.

From Project Gutenberg

I changed to the Illinois edge of the island to see what luck I could have, and I warn't disappointed.

From Project Gutenberg

The water was three or four foot deep on the island in the low places and on the Illinois bottom.

From Project Gutenberg

I paddled over to the Illinois shore, and drifted down most a half a mile doing it.

From Project Gutenberg