Vatican

Learned borrowing from Latin Vātī̆cānus (“Vatican Hill”), further etymology unknown. The connection to vāticinārī (“to prophesy, oracle”) is folk-etymological.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈvæ.tɪ.kən/

• Audio (US):

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the Vatican

1. The official residence of the Pope within Vatican City, the Vatican or Apostolic Palace.
2. (metonymically) The papal government; the papacy, the Holy See.
3. A city-state in Southern Europe, an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. Official name: Vatican City State.
4. The Vatican Hill in Rome, where the palace and Vatican City are located.
   • 1856, The Art of Building in Ancient and Modern Times […], volume 1, page 75:

     He [Caligula] began to build a circus upon the Vatican.

Vatican (not comparable)

1. Relating to the Vatican City state.

• “Vatican”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• Vacanti