Formosa — English Dictionary

Proper noun

1. Synonym of Taiwan: an island of East Asia.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   Heere we had the higheſt Land of Formoſa, South-eaſt, the neereſt land about eight leagues off, the neather point of it Eaſt by North ten leagues off our depth, fortie ſixe fathomes ozie : the latitude twentie fiue degree twentie minutes. From the high Land of Formoſa, ſtretcheth out a lower Land to the water-ſide, being a white ſandy ſhoare, and ſmooth ſand Hils farther vp the Countrey, much like to the Coaſt of Barbary.

   The Iſland Formoſa, or the fair Iſland doth alſo belong to this Province ; as likewiſe the near adjacent Iſland called Teiwan, which the Hollanders poſſeſs, who have built a Fort there called new Zealand.

   THE Iſland of Formoſa is about Eighty Leagues in compaſs ; ſo that the Hollanders were never in poſſeſſion of the whole Iſland, but were onely Maſters of four Fortreſſes, and two and fifty Villages, wherein they could number about fourteen or fifteen thouſand Inhabitants.

   We do not want Formosa or any part of Asia for ourselves. We believe that the future of Formosa should be settled peacefully by international action.

   More examples (3)

   These two islands are in the area of freedom. The Nationalists have these two islands. We should not force our Nationalist allies to get off of them and give them to the Communists. If we do that, we start a chain reaction, because the Communists aren't after Quemoy and Matsu, they're after Formosa.

   The developing scene had ominous aspects. The Chinese Communists were constantly threatening aggressive action against Formosa and the government of Chiang Kai-shek. Ever since World War II, the United States had recognized the strategic necessity of maintaining the integrity of the Western Pacific island chain, including Formosa as one of its principal links. Our readiness to go to the defense of that island, if it were attacked, had been announced as a governmental policy before I was inaugurated, and I had personally emphasized the importance of this island's safety to our nation's security.

   FORMOSA (TAIWAN) is an island separated from the southeast coast of China by the 121-mi.-wide Formosa strait (T’ai-wan hai-hsia) and one of a great island system rimming the western Pacific ocean.

2. Synonym of Taiwan: an administrative division including Formosa and nearby islands. A prefecture of Fujian, China (Qing Empire) (1683–1885).

   Usage

   • Historical

3. Synonym of Taiwan: an administrative division including Formosa and nearby islands. A province of China (Qing Empire) (1885–1895).

   Usage

   • Historical

   Examples

   A new broom is not more active for reform than this new governor-general is in the new province of Formosa.

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   H. E. Li.—We can say in the Treaty "In respect to the province of Formosa, when the Treaty has been ratified and exchanged the two Governments shall draw up the conditions for the transfer."

   UNTIL 1895, Formosa formed the nineteenth and only insular province of China, but after coming briefly under a Republican form of government, it became an integral part of the Empire of Japan.

4. Synonym of Taiwan: an administrative division including Formosa and nearby islands. A dependency of Japan (1895–1945).

   Usage

   • Historical

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Except for the relatively unimportant Ryukyu Islands, which were acquired earlier, Formosa is Japan's oldest colony. She acquired it out of her war with China in 1894, and during recent years was believed to have fortified it heavily.

5. Synonym of Taiwan: an administrative division including Formosa and nearby islands. A province of Taiwan (Republic of China) (from 1945).

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

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   Economically, the island is already far better off (with massive American aid) than it would be if it were incorporated into Communist China, and it would be better off still (and less of a burden to the American taxpayer) if its people were not required to support two governments and two civil services—one for the Chinese mainland, and the other for the province of Formosa—and an army of more than half a million, whose raison d’étre continues to be the reconquest of the mainland.

   Government population policy has for the most part been notable for its absence, and few leading Nationalists have publicly admitted the problem. Indeed, in 1959, in an interview with a western correspondent, Chou Chih-jou, then Governor of Formosa (province), complained that population growth was “ his most serious problem ” but his administration was hamstrung by the stand taken against artificial birth control by the central government in Taipei and the ruling Nationalist party.

   General Chiang Kai-Shek was also very prominent in the start of the uprising, but later defected and was forced out of the country to the Province of Formosa, now called Taiwan.

6. Synonym of Taiwan: an administrative division including Formosa and nearby islands. A claimed province of China (People's Republic of China or mainland China) (from 1949).

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   If we should propose an exchange of ambassadors, Mao Tse-tung would surely ask if our recognition extended to Communist sovereignty over the 'Province of Formosa.'

   The armed forces of China have struck the rebellious province of Formosa with force. We demand your immediate and unconditional surrender. Failure to comply with this order will warrant further action by our forces.

7. A city in Goiás, Brazil.

8. An island of the Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau.

Proper noun

1. A city in northern Argentina.

2. A department of Argentina around the city.

3. A province of Argentina around the city.

Proper noun

1. A surname from Maltese.