Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A member of a people constituting the majority of the population of Sri Lanka.
  • noun The Indic language of the Sinhalese that is the chief language of Sri Lanka.
  • adjective Of or relating to Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese, or their language or culture.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Same as Cingalese.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka, their Indo-Aryan language, or their culture.
  • noun A Sinhalese person: a member of the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka.
  • proper noun The Indo-Aryan language of the Sinhalese people (the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the Indic language spoken by the people of Sri Lanka
  • noun a native or inhabitant of Sri Lanka
  • adjective of or relating to the Sinhalese people
  • adjective of or relating to the Sinhalese languages

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Sanskrit Siṁhalam, Sri Lanka + –ese.]

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Examples

  • The 38-year-old, who previously converted to Islam [and moved from Sri Lanka to Bahrain], was detained on March 20 after writing two books in Sinhalese, allegedly offensive to Lord Buddha.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Prosecution for Insulting Religion — This Time, Buddhism 2010

  • The 38-year-old, who previously converted to Islam [and moved from Sri Lanka to Bahrain], was detained on March 20 after writing two books in Sinhalese, allegedly offensive to Lord Buddha.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Prosecution for Insulting Religion — This Time, Buddhism 2010

  • In Sri Lanka the distinction between Tamils and Sinhalese is barely noticeable to the visitor.

    The Perils of Partition 2003

  • In Sri Lanka the distinction between Tamils and Sinhalese is barely noticeable to the visitor.

    The Perils of Partition 2003

  • Sinhalese is the traditional language of Buddhism; therefore Sinhalese alone must be recognized as the national language.

    Threatened Christendom 1962

  • The school of Buddhism now professed in Ceylon, Burma and Siam is often called Sinhalese and (provided it is not implied that its doctrines originated in Ceylon) the epithet is correct.

    Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 Charles Eliot 1896

  • Our lyrics are written in English, Sinhalese and Sanskrit which differ according to different historical themes we have chosen.

    Metal Underground .com 2009

  • The gathering participated in the prayer vigil with hymns in English, Sinhalese and Tamil.

    Asian Tribune 2008

  • As a result, like the Serbs in the former Yugoslavia, the Jews in Israel, and the Shiites in Iran, the Sinhalese are a demographic majority with a dangerous minority complex of persecution.

    Buddha’s Savage Peace 2009

  • As a result, like the Serbs in the former Yugoslavia, the Jews in Israel, and the Shiites in Iran, the Sinhalese are a demographic majority with a dangerous minority complex of persecution.

    Buddha’s Savage Peace 2009

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