Ethiopia

[ ee-thee-oh-pee-uh ]

noun

1. Formerly Abyssinia. a republic in E Africa: formerly a monarchy. 409,266 sq. mi. (1,060,000 sq. km). Present boundaries include Eritrea. : Addis Ababa.
2. Also called Abyssinia. an ancient region in NE Africa, bordering on Egypt and the Red Sea.

Ethiopia

/ ˌiːθɪˈəʊpɪə /

noun

1. a state in NE Africa, on the Red Sea: consolidated as an empire under Menelik II (1889–1913); federated with Eritrea from 1952 until 1993; Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the military in 1974 and the monarchy was abolished in 1975; an independence movement in Eritrea was engaged in war with the government from 1961 until 1993. It lies along the Great Rift Valley and consists of deserts in the southeast and northeast and a high central plateau with many rivers (including the Blue Nile) and mountains rising over 4500 m (15 000 ft); the main export is coffee. Language: Amharic. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: birr. Capital: Addis Ababa. Pop: 93 877 025 (2013 est). Area: 1 128 215 sq km (435 614 sq miles) Former nameAbyssinia

Ethiopia

1. Country in northeastern Africa bordered by Eritrea to the northeast, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and Sudan to the west. Formerly called Abyssinia. Its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa .

Notes

Selassie was overthrown by a military junta , which proclaimed a communist government and became closely allied with the Soviet Union .

Ethiopia is one of the world's oldest Christian nations, having been converted in the fourth century.

The junta was overthrown in 1991 and the first multiparty elections were held in 1995.

The country was plagued by famine and economic chaos in the 1980s and 1990s.

Of all African nations, it most successfully withstood European attempts at colonization, remaining independent throughout its history, with the exception of a six-year period (1935–1941) during which it was occupied by Italy , which was then governed by fascists ( see fascism ).

Ethiopia was ruled from 1930 to 1936 and again from 1941 to 1974 by the powerful and charismatic Emperor Haile Selassie I (born Ras Tafari Makonnen). Called the “Lion of Judah,” he claimed direct descent from the biblical King Solomon and Queen of Sheba .

Ethiopia is Black Africa's oldest state, tracing its history back more than two thousand years.

Example Sentences

At least 70 percent of the children were adopted from overseas, including Russia, China, Ethiopia and Ukraine.

From The Daily Beast

Rwanda and Ethiopia, symbols in the past of death and mayhem, are now among the fastest-growing economies in the world.

From The Daily Beast

After it reached Ethiopia, the contents were distributed and sold out in under two weeks.

From The Daily Beast

In the early 2000s, an acquaintance told Sun about the possibility of doing business in Ethiopia.

From The Daily Beast

Throughout its history, Israel has helped airlift vulnerable Jewish populations in countries like Yemen and Ethiopia to safety.

From The Daily Beast

And he heard say about Tharaca the king of Ethiopia: He is come forth to fight against thee.

From Project Gutenberg

The grain fields of Ethiopia and Egypt were the themes of the poet, and their garners, the subject of the historian.

From Project Gutenberg

Ethiopia and Egypt were the strength thereof, and there is no end: Africa and the Libyans were thy helpers.

From Project Gutenberg

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants, the children of my dispersed people, bring me an offering.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity, the curtains of the land of Madian shall be troubled.

From Project Gutenberg