Aisne

American  

[eyn, en] / eɪn, ɛn /

noun

1. a river in N France, flowing NW and W to the Oise. 175 miles (280 km) long.

2. a department in N France. 2,868 sq. mi. (7,430 sq. km). Laon.

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Aisne British  

/ ɛn, eɪn /

noun

1. a department of NE France, in Picardy region. Capital: Laon. Pop: 535 326 (2003 est). Area: 7428 sq km (2897 sq miles)

2. a river in N France, rising in the Argonne Forest and flowing northwest and west to the River Oise: scene of a major Allied offensive in 1918 which turned the tide finally against Germany in World War I. Length: 282 km (175 miles)

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Example Sentences

During his four years in the navy, Mr Winter visited Scotland, Iceland and Russia whilst serving on minesweepers HMS Harrier and HMS Combatant, as well as on battle class destroyer HMS Aisne.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

A truck driver was killed when his vehicle was hit by a tree in northern France’s inland Aisne region, Transport Minister Clement Beaune said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2023

In the two industrial northern departments where Le Pen did best - the Aisne and Pas-de-Calais - female life expectancy was two years below the national average.

From Reuters • Apr. 12, 2022

But presidential trips always have a Plan B for just such contingencies and Aisne is only about 50 miles from Paris.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2018

When the Germans reached high ground behind the Aisne, they began to dig furiously, preparing fortified trenches that they would defend against Allied attacks for the next four years.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman