(a) A broad geographical term for much of southern Asia, often including part of China or islands to the south and southeast of Asia; margarite (ston) of ~, a pearl (jewel) from this area; ter of ~, asphalt; thomas of ~, St. Thomas the Apostle; (b) one of the regions into which this area can be divided; heigh (heigher, upper) ~, northern India, ?the area between the Ganges and the Himalayas; ~ the more, ~ major, gret ~, Greater India, ? = heigh ~; ~ the lesse, Lesser India, the southern part of the Indian peninsula; (c) one of the languages spoken in Inde; (d) an inhabitant of Inde; -- only in pl.