Definition for Greek - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

Subscriber login

Library card login

Close menu

	Email Cite
	Greek (Greek) Pronunciation: /griːk/ adjective relating to Greece, its people, or their language. Compare with Hellenic. noun 1a native or inhabitant of modern Greece, or a person of Greek descent. a Greek-speaking person in the ancient world, especially a native of one of the city states of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. 2 [mass noun] the ancient or modern language of Greece, the only representative of the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family. The ancient form of Greek was spoken in the southern Balkan peninsula from the 2nd millennium bc. The Greek alphabet, used from the 1st millennium bc onwards, was adapted from the Phoenician alphabet. The dialect of classical Athens formed the basis of the standard dialect (koinē) from the 3rd century bc onwards, and this remained as a literary language during the periods of the Byzantine Empire and Turkish rule (see katharevousa). The colloquial language, however, continued to evolve independently (see demotic) 3US a member of a fraternity or sorority having a Greek-letter name. Phrases beware (or fear) the Greeks bearing gifts proverb if a rival or enemy shows one generosity or kindness, one should be suspicious of their motives. [with allusion to Virgil's Aeneid (ii. 49)] it's (all) Greek to me informal I can’t understand it at all. Derivatives Greekness noun Origin: Old English Grēcas 'the Greeks', from Latin Graeci, the name given by the Romans to the people who called themselves the Hellenes, from Greek Graikoi, which according to Aristotle was the prehistoric name of the Hellenes		Search results in the dictionary Greek god Greek key Greek cross Greek fire Greek salad Greek coffee More results » Nearby Words grebe grebo Grecian Grecian nose Greco, El Greco, José Greece greed greedy Greek Greek Catholic Greek coffee Greek cross Greek fire Greek god Greek key Greek Orthodox Church Greek revival Greek salad