† camˈpania Obs.
[In form, a. L. campania ‘plain level country’, spec. as the name of the rich and level province of Italy, lying south-east of the Tiber (afterwards particularly distinguished as Campagna di Roma); in later Lat. applied to many similar tracts, and as a common appellative; f. campus field. Hence (through Fr.), champaign, campaign n. But perh., in Eng. use, really the Italian word (also adopted as campagna, campagnia), spelt as Latin, or phonetically.]
1. ‘A large open level tract of ground without hills’ (J.); plain; = champaign.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. I. v. 556 A clear view, upon an open Campania. 1663 Charleton Chorea Gigant. 42 In fields and spacious campanias. a 1698 Temple (J.) In vast campanias, there are few cities. |
2. in campania: in the flat open country where the operations of regular warfare are conducted; in open battle, ‘in the field’, ‘in campaign’ (in its original sense). Cf. campaign n. and champaign.
| 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 93 The Hungarians presuming..upon their valour in campania, have ever neglected to fortifie their frontiers. Ibid. 179 As they [cavalry] are of great consequence in campania, so amongst hils and rockes they are of small service. |
3. Operations of an army in the field during a season; = campaign n. 3.
| 1679 E. Everard Prot. Princes Europe 8 Since the last Campania, the three..have entred into the entanglement of a War. a 1698 Temple (J. s.v. Attribute), I have observed a Campania determine contrary to appearances, by the caution and conduct of a general. |