Philadelphia
pronunciation
How to pronounce Philadelphia in British English:
UK [ˌfɪlə'delfjə]
How to pronounce Philadelphia in American English:
US [ˌfɪlə'delfjə]
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- Noun:
- the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania
Word Origin
- Philadelphia
- city in Pennsylvania, U.S., from Greek, taken by William Penn to mean "brotherly love," from philos "loving" (see -phile) + adelphos "brother" (see Adelphia). Also the name recalls that of the ancient city in Lydia, mentioned in the New Testament, which was so called in honor of Attalos II Philadelphos, 2c B.C.E. king of Pergamon, who founded it. His title is said to have meant "loving the brethren." Philadelphia lawyer "clever, shrewd attorney" attested from 1788 in London, said originally to have been applied to Andrew Hamilton, who obtained the famous acquittal of J.P. Zenger on libel charges in 1735. [C]ricket and coaching were after all popular in their day in places besides Philadelphia. It was merely that Philadelphia kept on with them longer than most places. This is a perennial Philadelphia trick, and gives to Philadelphia a sort of perpetual feeling of loss. Philadelphians are always just now getting rid of things that are picturesque, like those gas lamps on the streets, only because everybody else got rid of them long ago. [Nathaniel Burt, "The Perennial Philadelphians," 1963]
Example
- 1. Similar proposals have failed in new york and philadelphia .
- 2. She recently moved to philadelphia , pennsylvania .
- 3. That measure has historically trended higher in philadelphia .
- 4. All of philadelphia society will be there .
- 5. Philadelphia is studying how to deliver services more efficiently .