ἤπειρος terra-firma, the land, as opp. to the sea, Hom., Hes., etc.; κατʼ ἤπειρον by land, Hdt.; μήτʼ ἐν θαλάττῃ μήτʼ ἐν ἠπείρῳ Ar.:— hence in Od., even an island is called ἤπειρος. the mainland of Western Greece, opp. to the neighbouring islands (afterwards called Ἤπειρος as n. pr.), Od.:—then, generally, the mainland, Hdt., Attic later, a continent: Asia was esp. called the Continent, Hdt., etc.; also Europe, Aesch.; whence Soph. speaks of δισσαὶ ἤπειροι, i. e. Europe and Asia. deriv. uncertain