late 14c., "land under the jurisdiction of a town, state, etc.," probably from Latin territorium "land around a town, domain, district," from terra "earth, land" (see terrain) + -orium, suffix denoting place (see -ory). Sense of "any tract of land, district, region" is first attested c. 1600. Specific U.S. sense of "organized self-governing region not yet a state" is from 1799. Of regions defended by animals from 1774.
"Since -torium is a productive suffix only after verbal stems, the rise of terri-torium is unexplained" [Michiel de Vaan, "Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages"]. An alternative theory, somewhat supported by the vowels of the original Latin word, suggests derivation from terrere "to frighten" (see terrible); thus territorium would mean "a place from which people are warned off."
双语例句
1. The best thing to do when entering unknown territory is smile.
踏入未知地带最好的对策就是微笑。
来自美剧《凯莉日记》
2. We are prepared to fight for every inch of territory.
我们时刻准备着为每一寸领土而战。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The new territory would extend over one-fifth of Canada's land mass.
这块新领土将会使加拿大陆地面积扩展1/5以上。
来自柯林斯例句
4. On May 1st the army took over another swathe of territory.
军队在5月1号又接管了另一长条领土。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Rival claims to Macedonian territory caused conflict in the Balkans.