Antilia
|An-til-i-a|
/ænˈtɪliə/
legendary island → proper name
Etymology
'Antilia' originates from Medieval Latin 'Antilia', a name used in nautical lore and on 15th-century maps; it was adopted into Iberian languages (Portuguese/Spanish 'Antilia'/'Antillia'), though the ultimate origin is uncertain.
'Antilia' appeared on late medieval portolan charts and in sailors' tales as a phantom island (sometimes called the 'Island of Seven Cities'); the name persisted in cartography and literature and in modern times has been reused as a proper name (for example, the Mumbai residence 'Antilia').
Initially it meant 'a legendary or phantom island in the Atlantic', but over time the term has been repurposed as a proper name for real places and objects, including a notable modern private residence.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a modern proper name for a luxury private residence in Mumbai, India (the 27-story home owned by Mukesh Ambani).
Antilia is one of the world's most expensive private houses, standing 27 storeys tall in Mumbai.
Noun 2
a legendary or phantom island reported in medieval Atlantic lore and depicted on early maps (also spelled Antillia); associated with tales such as the 'Island of Seven Cities'.
Medieval sailors put Antilia on their charts as a mysterious island far out in the Atlantic.
Last updated: 2025/11/02 09:20