1. Plural of ecumene; regions of the earth that are permanently inhabited or suitable for human settlement.
Usage: formal; geography; often used in academic or historical contexts
2. In historical geography, the known or civilized world, especially as understood in ancient or medieval times.
Usage: historical; archaic

Examples

• Geographers study the distribution of ecumenes across different continents.
• The ecumenes of the ancient world were far smaller than those we know today.
• Climate and resources determine which ecumenes can support large populations.
• Medieval scholars debated the boundaries of the known ecumenes.
• Modern transportation has connected previously isolated ecumenes.