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. 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.
1672. Temple, Ess. Govt., Wks. 1720, I. 97 (J.). In vast Campania’s, such as are extended through Asia and Africk, where there are few Cities [etc.].
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 and CHAMPAIGN.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 93. The Hungarians presuming … vpon their valour in campania, haue euer 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 seruice.
3. Operations of an army in the field during a season; = CAMPAIGN sb. 3.
1679. Everard, Prot. Princes Europe, 8. Since the last Campania, the three … have entred into the entanglement of a War.
1677. Temple, Ess. Gout, Wks. 1720, I. 136 (J. s.v. Attribute). I have observed the Fate of Campania determine contrary to appearances, by the Caution and Conduct of a General.
