Greek
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: enpr: grēk
ipa: /ɡɹiːk/
rhymes: -iːk
Forms: form: Greeker
form: Greekest
form: Gr.
form: Greeke
Etymology: Inherited from Old English Grēcas (“Greeks”), variant of Crēcas, from Proto-West Germanic *Krēkō, from Latin Graecus of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from the toponym Γραῖα (Graîa) or from other Paleo-Balkanic forms from a tribal name Graii.
Greek in any case has the cognate Γραικός (Graikós), the mythological ancestor of the Γραίοι (Graíoi, “Graecians”). Germanic cognates include Dutch Griek, German Grieche. The ⟨g⟩ in English and Germanic cognates was restored under influence from French grec and classical Latin Graecus. The adjective dates to 14th-century Middle English, replacing Old English Grēċisċ (“Greekish”) and earlier Middle English Gregeis. In reference to fraternities and sororities, a clipping of earlier Greek-letter in reference to their usual names being initialisms of mottos in the Greek language. In reference to terms used to analysize financial derivatives, from their usual names consisting of Greek letters.
Senses: examples: text: Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft.
ref: 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
text: Sanskrit, Greek, Slavonic, Germanic, and Celtic names were all of this type, but there are also shorter names formed from the compound ones; […].
ref: 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xii:
text: The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates promoted wine for various purposes, including reducing fevers and dressing wounds.
ref: 2022 January 22, Jonathan Reiner, “If you think that glass of wine is good for you, it’s time to reconsider”, in CNN:
glosses: Of or relating to Greece, its people, its language, or its culture.
glosses: Synonym of incomprehensible, used for foreign speech or text, technical jargon, or advanced subjects.
synonyms: word: incomprehensible
word: used for foreign speech or text
word: technical jargon
word: or advanced subjects
examples: text: “Every single person is going to have a different experience watching this film,” she said when I asked about possibly labeling the Greek system as “toxic”.
ref: 2023 May 24, Adrian Horton, “‘Competitive femininity’: inside the wild and secretive world of sororities”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
glosses: Of or relating to collegiate fraternities, sororities, or (uncommon) honor societies.
Synonyms: word: Grecian
word: Greco-
word: Greek
word: Hellenic
word: Helleno-
Hypernyms: word: senses relating to Greece
word: Greeks
word: ancient
word: European
word: Greco-Roman
Derived terms: Greek alphabet
Greek arts
Greek calends
Greek Catholic
Greek Catholicism
Greek chorus
Greek Christian Scriptures
Greek cross
Greekery
Greekesque
Greek Fathers
Greek fire
Greek foot
Greek fret
Greek fries
Greek god
Greek house
Greekification
Greekify
Greekish
Greekize
Greek key
Greek letter
Greek life
Greeklike
Greekly
Greekness
Greek number
Greek numeral
Greek Orthodox
Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodoxy
Greek pitch
Greek salad
Greek Sign Language
Greek system
Greek yoghurt